Thriller: A scene from the action movie Truy Sát (Tracer). File Photo courtesy of film producer

HCM CITY — Vietnamese filmmakers are working on new projects, including romance, action and horror films slated for release this summer.

Truy Sát (Tracer) is a new project from actress/producer Trương Ngọc Ánh and Vietnamese/Canadian director Cường Ngô. 

Ánh and Ngô, brought home several prizes at local and international film festivals after they released Hương Ga (Rise), about the life of a female gangster in 2014.

Truy Sát portrays Nguyễn An An (played by Ánh), a female leader of a task force. She leads her comrades in a fight against dangerous criminals.

“I decided to invest in an action movie because I want to bring a diverse choice for audiences,” said the film’s producer Ánh, adding that comedy films have dominated at Viet Nam’s box office. “I want new audiences to become interested in Vietnamese cinema and see how professional the industry has become.”

Ánh, who has worked for 20 years as a model, singer and actress, invested more than VNĐ20 billion (nearly US$910,000) in the movie.

“I spent time, money and my heart on this project. I believe in the success of the film,” she said.

Truy Sát was shot for 49 days in HCM City, Đà Lạt and Nha Trang. It includes fight scenes and thrilling chase scenes featuring Vietnamese traditional martial arts.

The movie is set for release on April 22.  

Bao Giờ Có Yêu Nhau (When We Fall in Love) is the latest project of Vietnamese – American director Dustin Nguyễn, who is well-known in Việt Nam for his role as a French secret policeman in Chánh Phương Film Studio’s Dòng Máu Anh Hùng (The Rebel). 

Produced by Nguyễn and his wife Bebe Phạm, the movie is a love story between a student and a photographer.

Singer and actress Minh Hằng will play the role of nature lover Linh who has a fateful meeting with photographer Huy, played by actor Quý Bình, while they are discovering wild forests in Tây Nguyên (Central Highlands).

“The movie will bring audiences an emotional story,” said Nguyễn.

Bao Giờ Có Yêu Nhau is expected to be released on May 12.

Along with these two movies, this summer will see several new projects by local film producers.

Singer and film producer Lý Hải will release a sequel of action and comedy movie Lật Mặt (Face-Off) in May. The first part earned VNĐ25 billion ($1.1 million) one week after release in 2015.

Vietnamese – American director Charlie Nguyễn and actor Johnny Trí Nguyễn, and comedy actor Thái Hòa, will be back in a project called Fan Cuồng (Crazy Fan).

The trio have made several comedy films like Tèo Em and Cưới Ngay Kẻo Lỡ (Marry Me Soon).

“Charlie, Johnny and Thái Hòa will be capable of guaranteeing box-office success for Fan Cuồng,” said a spokesman for Chánh Phương Film Studio, the film’s producer.

The film is planned for release in June. — VNS