HÀ NỘI — For the first time, movie buffs in Hà Nội and HCM City will have a chance to sample Danish cinema at a film event, starting this weekend. 

Danish Film Week will screen eight films - including motion pictures, animated and documentary works - that have won international awards and nominations. The festival will take place during these two weekends November 19 & 20 and November 26 & 27 at National Cinema Centre, 87 Láng Hạ Street in Hà Nội and Cinebox 212 Lý Chính Thắng District 3, HCM City.

"With Danish film week, we want to introduce the Danish contemporary film industry, which has produced a vast amount of talented actors and filmmakers with worldwide reputation," said Charlotte Laursen, Danish ambassador to Việt Nam.

"Through the films, we hope to give you a glimpse of the Danish modern society and contemporary life. But more than that, we hope you enjoy the films as much as we do".

Two motion pictures A Royal Affair and The Hunt, both starring Mads Mikkelse, perhaps the most famous Danish leading man, will be highlights of the film festival. The films were nominated for Best Foreign Language picture at the 2013 and 2014 US Academy Awards. 

A Royal Affair is a gripping tale of brave idealists who risk everything in their pursuit of freedom for the people, but above all it is the story of a passionate and forbidden romance that changed an entire nation. The drama has 21 international awards.

The Hunt is about 40-year-old man who is reestablishing his life after a tough divorce. Things go awry after a passing remark that leaves a small community in a state of collective hysteria, while Lucas fights for his life and dignity.  The thriller won 35 international awards.

A Royal Affair will be shown at 3pm on Saturday,  and The Hunt will take place at 7.30pm on November 26 in Hà Nội and HCM City.

Mikkelse’s Lucas in The Hunt earned him the best actor award at Cannes International Film Festival. He also has won many awards at Danish Academy Film Award and international film festivals such as Palm Springs International Film Festival in California; Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival in South Korea and Rouen Nordic Film Festival in France.

He received the special prize for European Achievement in World Cinema at the European Film Awards in 2011. He was knighted in 2010 by Queen of Denmark. 

The film week will also screen motion picutures thriller The Candidate; drama A Hijacking and drama Silence Heart; documentary The Circus Dynasty and animations Freddy Frogface and Mini and Mozzies. All the films will be shown with Danish language with Vietnamese and English subtitles.

Danish Film Week is held to celebrate the 45th year of diplomatic relations between Việt Nam and Denmark. — VNS