HCM CITY — The 2017 Korea – Việt Nam Film Industry Network, held in co-operation between the Việt Nam and South Korea film industries, concluded last Friday in HCM City.

The two-day event gathered cultural representatives from the two countries and dozens of State-owned and private film companies and distributors.

It included meetings on filmmaking, scriptwriting, distribution, post-production, technologies and human resources, in which Vietnamese and Korean filmmakers and film distributors met and shared experiences.

Đỗ Duy Anh, deputy director of the Việt Nam Cinema Department (VCD), said: “We have worked closely with the Korea Film Council (KOFIC) to offer opportunities for young Vietnamese directors to develop their business.”

Lee Sang Seok, a member of KOFIC, said the film council would give stronger support to Vietnamese film companies in an effort to boost co-operation between the two countries.

“KOFIC will open a representative office in Việt Nam soon,” he said.

The Vietnamese film industry has developed strongly in recent years, reflecting an increase in the number of films as well as quality and diversity in film topics.

The industry’s revenue reached more than US$132 million last year, an increase of $27.2 million compared to 2015, reported by the VCD.

Last year, 41 Vietnamese feature films were released, making up more than 26 per cent of market share, earning $35.5 million in ticket sales.

“We have seen the success of co-operation with South Korean partners in recent years. We expect higher profits in the future,” said Vũ Thị Hồng Nga, a senior official of the VCD, referring to the film Em Là Bà Nội Của Anh (Sweet 20), a Vietnamese remake of the Korean film Miss Ranny, which was released last year.

The film, directed by young talent Phan Gia Nhật Linh of HCM City, made a record at the domestic box office after earning more than VNĐ130 billion ($4 million)

Another project, Sắc Đẹp Ngàn Cân (Heavy Beauty), a Vietnamese remake of the Korean blockbuster 200-Pound Beauty, released in 2006, will be in cinemas early next month.

The film is directed by James Ngô and stars young pop idols Minh Hằng and Rocker Nguyễn.

The producer ShowBT and Korean partners worked together in make-up and costume design, soundtrack composition and post-production.

Sắc Đẹp Ngàn Cân promises big profits in ticket sales.

“We plan to issue new policies about filmmaking and film distribution to promote the local film industry and attract more foreign filmmakers,” Đỗ Duy Anh  from VCD said.

He said that the department targets having 80 Vietnamese films released and 110 million people going to the cinema by 2020.

The 2017 Korea – Việt Nam Film Industry Network was organised by VCD and KOFIC. — VNS