Within the framework of the 20^th Viet Nam Film Festival in Da Nang from 24 - 28 November, a seminar recently took place in the city to identify more effective measures to globally promote ASEAN movies.

The exchange programme in progress

Mr Jose Miguel de la Rosa, the Executive Director of Film ASEAN (Southeast Asia Film Development Foundation, Inc) highlighted the significance of organising more film screenings, ASEAN Films’ Week and Month events, plus international film festivals.  These will help to advertise the best works of ASEAN regional filmmakers to the rest of the world in the years ahead.

Besides, Mr Jose Miguel de la Rosa also underscored an ideal way of opening more training courses on writing scripts, and inviting more world-renowned cinematographic experts and film makers to share their valuable experience in this aspect with those involved in the ASEAN film industry.

Another international participant, Mr Jacek Bromski, the President of the Polish Filmmakers Association proudly said that Polish-made films now occupy 35% of the Europe’s total market share, just after France.

Over recent years, the Polish cinema has received effective support from its government.  Furthermore, importance has been attached to accelerating bilateral cooperation with other countries worldwide boasting rich experience and reputation in the global film industry in a bid to bring Polish films on par with other countries.

In Asia, the South Korean cinema has gained great success thanks its good-looking, stylish actors, quality acting, moving stories and superb cinematography.  Last year saw as many as 2,600 South Korean films, many of which were highly appreciated by viewers.

Mr Yun Ha from the Korean Film Council remarked that his country and Viet Nam, and ASEAN as whole, share many cultural similarities, and this indeed helps to facilitate the mutual cooperation in the years ahead.  He hoped that, more Vietnamese-made films would be introduced to South Korean viewers.

Many ASEAN films have gained many prestigious awards at international events.  Included are ‘Dao Cua Dan Ngu Cu’ (The Way Station) by Vietnamese actress-director Hong Anh, ‘Turah’ by Indonesian director Wicaksono Wisnu Lgowo and ‘Adrift’ by Malaysian talent Zuhir Bin Assri.

Most notably, ‘Dao Cua Dan Ngu Cu’ won the top prize at the 2017 ASEAN International Film Festival And Awards (AIFFA), and also brought home 2 other major awards for best leading actor and best director of photography (DOP) at the awards ceremony in Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia in May.

Director Hong Anh (centre) giving instructions to an actor and an actress in a scene from ‘Dao Cua Dan Ngu Cu’

The film tells the story of a small Vietnamese fishing village and the relationships between its inhabitants, each with their own inner struggles.  It is based on the namesake novel by Vietnamese novelist Do Phuoc Tien. 

Ms Hong Anh said that her film will compete with other rivals at the upcoming international film festival in Egypt. 

The Gala Dinner of the 20^th Viet Nam Film Festival took place on Sunday evening.

Addressing the event, municipal People’s Committee Vice Chairman Nguyen Ngoc Tuan hoped that this year’s festival will be a great success. In particular, Vice Chairman Tuan also remarked that it was a great honour to the authority and people of Da Nang to welcome ASEAN filmmakers who are staying here for the 1^st Viet Nam-initiated ASEAN Film Awards.

Also on the sidelines of this year’s event, artistes who have won awards at the Viet Nam Film Festival over the past 2 decades recently attended an exchange programme with students from the city-based Duy Tan University.