Despite VND42 billion (USD2 million) of funding missing, the 17th film festival to be hosted in Phu Yen Province will open in December this year.
Deputy Director of the Department of Cinema Le Ngoc Minh
On June 3 this year, the Ministry of Police decided to press charges against Pham Thanh Hai, an accountant at the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism’s Department of Cinema for appropriating public assets.
According to preliminary investigation results, since 2009, Hai falsified documents with fake approval from the department in order to withdraw VND42 billion (USD2 million). After the case had been uncovered, Hai absconded on May 25, 2011.
Deputy Director of the Department of Cinema Le Ngoc Minh on August 11 said, “We have co-ordinated with the investigative agency to bring this case to light. This is fraud. To date, Pham Thanh Hai remains on the run. The Ministry of Public Security continues to investigate and has issued a wanted notice nationwide.”
Despite the huge losses, the department will continue to hold the 11th film festival in the central province of Phu Yen’s Tuy Hoa City from December 15-18, according to Minh.
Prizes will be granted to various categories including feature films, documentaries and animation.
Films eligible for the festival should have been made between October 1, 2009 to September 30, 2011, he added.
Dung dot or "Don’t burn” won the Golden Lotus Prize at the 16th film festival
