The press conference opening the 6th Hà Nội International Film Festival chaired by Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Tạ Quang Đông at Daewoo Hotel on November 7. VNS Photo Nguyễn Bình

HÀ NỘI – Nearly 800 international and Vietnamese delegates from over 50 countries and territories are expected to attend the opening of the 6th Hà Nội International Film Festival (HANIFF VI) slated for today at Hà Nội Cultural Friendship Palace.

HANIFF VI will feature 123 films including motion pictures, short films, documentaries, animation and contemporary Vietnamese works.

With the theme "Cinema for Humanities, Adaptability and Development", HANIFF VI is jointly held by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism’s Cinema Department and the municipal Department of Sports and Tourism from November 8 to 12.

"The festival honours outstanding cinematographic works that are rich in humanity and possess creative flair, encouraging new talents from the film industry," said Vi Kiến Thành, head of the Cinema Department.

"Film festivals around the world have been greatly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic such as postponement, cancellation, and downscaling. HANIFF will be orgnised in adaptive, safe, and flexible conditions for the pandemic prevention and control and taking action to develop the national film industry."

HANIFF VI will take place with a series of events such as the Competition category, World Cinema Panorama, Country in Focus: South Korean Cinema, and a Collection of contemporary Vietnamese films.

The Competition category will see 11 films from India, Spain, Iran, Sri Lanka, Brazil, France, Myanmar, Poland, Sweden, Kazakhstan, the Philippines, and the host country.

Vietnamese movie Hoa Nhài (Jasmine) by director Đặng Nhật Minh will be premiered at 2pm local time to kick off the festival. It is about human relations in the busy life of Hanoians. The movie is the only Vietnamese contender in the Competion category.

Over 60 films will be shown at World Cinema Panorama including nominees at international film festivals in Cannes, Berlin, Venice, Sundance and Busan.

John Denver Trending from the Philippines will be shown on November 9 at 6pm at the National Film Centre. It was an award-winning script at the HANIFF 2018's Film Project Market.

Two seminars will be held focusing on South Korean cinema and introducing Vietnamese policy for cinema development policies and popularising culture through cinema.

An exhibition entitled Filming Locations in Hà Nội’s Cultural Heritage Sites at Daewoo Hotel is an event that is expected to make a good impression on the regional and international delegates.

The festival sideline activities will include a film project market, outdoor film screenings, exchanges with artists, and sightseeing tours through some attractive destinations in Hà Nội for guests and participants.

Outdoor film screenings will take place at War Martyr Monument near Hoàn Kiếm Lake and opposite Thê Húc Bridge from 7pm on November 9 and 11.

The jury panel includes Polish director and scriptwriter Janusz Jikowski, Sri Lankan scriptwriter and film critic Ranjanee Ratnavibhushana, executive director of Korean Academy of Film Arts Gunshik Jo, Japanese filmmaker Wakai Makiko, and Vietnamese director Bùi Thạc Chuyên.

"I'm glad to be a juror at the HANIFF and the jurors will make the festival successful," said Ratnavibhushana.

HANIFF was launched in 2010 on the 1,000th anniversary of Thăng Long Hà Nội. Since then, five editions have been held successfully.

As a result, it contributes to strongly promoting Vietnamese cinema to international friends; encouraging new talents in cinema in Việt Nam and other countries, and encouraging cinematography exchange and learning around the world.

The opening and closing ceremony will be broadcast live on Hà Nội Television and Việt Nam National Television on November 8 and 12. - VNS