The Vietnam International Film Festival (VIFF) opened yesterday in Hanoi.
Australian director Phillip Noyce arrived with his wife and son
The opening ceremony saw the attendance of many film makers, directors, actors, actresses and onlookers from the region as well as the world. Guests included Australian director Phillip Noyce, Hong Kong movies star Nick Cheung, Vietnamese-French actress Pham Linh Dan, Korean actress Kang Soo Youn and more.
The festival is seen as an excellent opportunity to share and learn experiences with an international collection of people involved in the film industry. Vietnamese participants included directors Dang Nhat Minh and Bui Dinh Hac, actors Tra Giang, Nhu Quynh, The Anh, and a new generation of actors Ngo Thanh Van, Do Hai Yen and Thanh Hang, etc.
Tra Giang, a well-known Vietnamese actress who earned her fame through many old films featuring the American war, was very moved by the event. “We should have had this international film festival in Vietnam long ago,” she said, “But better late than never, this is a good sign for Vietnam’s film industry.”
According to actress Do Hai Yen, the film festival will be a precious chance for local artists to meet, share and learn experiences from foreign artists, as well as for Vietnam’s film industry to promote itself to the world.
The 3D animated film, “Arthur and the Two Worlds War” by French director Luc Bensson, was introduced at the opening ceremony.
During the 5-day festival, 12 documentaries and 10 featured films from China, Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, Hong Kong, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam will compete for categories including Best Film, Best Short Film, Best Documentary, Best Director, Best Actress, Best Actor, a prize of the Network of the Promotion of Asian Cinema (Netpac), and the Media Award.
The selection panel will include Venice International Film Festival director Marco Mueller, Korean actress Kang Soo Youn, French cameramen Francois Cantonne and Matthieu Poirot - Del Pech, NETPAC President Aruna Vasudev, Vietnamese directors Dang Nhat Minh and Bui Dinh Hac, and more.
The event will also hold seminars on Vietnam’s film industry and a photo exhibition of international film festivals.
Vietnamese director Dang Nhat Minh, a member of the selection panel
Miss Vietnam 2004 Nguyen Thi Huyen
Miss Vietnam 2010 Dang Thi Ngoc Han (left)
Actress and top model Thanh Hang (left) and director Vu Ngoc Dang
Model Minh Hang (left) and singer Tuan Hung who have also taken part in some recent films
Vietnamese famous actors Kieu Thanh (left) and Minh Tiep
Hong Kong movies star Nick Cheung
Vietnamese French actress Pham Linh Dan
Actress Do Hai Yen
Comedy artist Xuan Bac (right) and actress Mai Thu Huyen
A dance performance closed the opening ceremony