Bên Trong Vỏ Kén Vàng (Inside the Yellow Cocoon Shell), a film by Phạm Thiên Ân, one of the winners of the 2018 CJ Short Filmmaking Project, won the Caméra d’Or Award at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival. Photo jkfilm.vn

HCM CITY – Promoting cooperation within Asia is one of key factors for Việt Nam’s film industry to develop and gain success, according to Park Ki-Yong, chairman of the Korean Film Council (KOFIC).

Park said Việt Nam should seek support from Asian countries in sharing infrastructure and human resources, and improving storytelling.

He also emphasised to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the film industry between Việt Nam and South Korea.

He gave the example of Nhà Bà Nữ (The House of No Man), a successful cooperation between Vietnamese filmmakers and Korean distributor CJ HK Entertainment, who successfully distributed the movie in Việt Nam and foreign markets.

The directorial debut of film producer Trấn Thành became the highest-grossing Vietnamese film of all time, earning VNĐ450 billion (US$19 million). It also achieved more than $560,000 a week after release in the US in March.

Park mentioned that Korea’s capital, experience, and global distribution channel combined with Việt Nam’s human resources, creativity, and location created the success of the movie.

Nguyễn Thị Thu Hà, deputy director of the Việt Nam Cinema Department, said the cooperation between the department and CJ ENM has earned many achievements over the years.

In 2014, the department cooperated with CJ ENM in a programme called “Art House” to support and screen films by Vietnamese independent directors who won top prizes at national and international film festivals.

In 2016, they signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in the film industry, including the CJ Short Film Making Project, where many Vietnamese filmmakers received financial support to make their own short films, and from there develop them into feature films.

Hà said the CJ Short Film Making Project was first held in 2018, discovering many talented filmmakers such as Phạm Thiên Ân.

Ân was one of the winners of the 2018 contest with the short film Hãy Thức Tỉnh và Sẵn Sàng (Stay Awake, Be Ready). The film later turned into his debut feature film, Bên Trong Vỏ Kén Vàng (Inside the Yellow Cocoon Shell), which brought the director the Caméra d’Or Award at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival.

According to Park, Việt Nam needs to have a support system for independent filmmakers from governments and businesses to make art movies, because the movie industry must consist of both commercial and art movies.

He said KOFIC planned to provide funds of KRW22.8 billion to KRW85.4 billion ($17.23 million-$64.76 million) for Korean filmmakers in 2023.

He also recommended developing facilities for filming such as virtual production studios and post-production, as well as open schools to educate filmmakers, film crews, and technicians.

In the workshop on the film industry held in HCM City this week, KOFIC chairman expressed his wish to increase cooperation between KOFIC and the Korean Academy of Film Arts with Việt Nam in the future.

Hà of the Cinema Department said, “It is a precious and practical opportunity to boost the development of Việt Nam’s cultural industry in general, and the film industry in particular.” – VNS