HÀ NỘI – The Vietnamese movie Cô Gái Đến Từ Hôm Qua (The Girl Who Comes From Yesterday) will premiere at the 21st Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival (BIFAN) in July.

The BIFAN, which presents unique and specific genre movies, is scheduled to take place from July 13 to 23 at Bucheon, South Korea. The Girl Who Comes From Yesterday will be shown in the category of World Fantastic Blue, which introduces foreign movies from the sci-fi, fantasy, comedies to thrillers categories.

Though the film has not been entered in the competition category, BIFAN 2017’s organising board will shortlist Asian movies from the World Fantastic Blue list for the NETPAC (Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema) award.

Adapted from the original long story by children’s writer Nguyễn Nhật Ánh, The Girl Who Comes From Yesterday, which will premiere at BIFAN before its debut in Việt Nam, is not a traditional teenage rom-com, and has strong elements of the fantastic. “The film’s many fantasy scenes are a highlight of the cinematic version of the story,” Phan Gia Nhật Linh, director of the movie, said. “They turn the seemingly silly love story of protagonist, Thư, from letters in the story to reality. That’s the reason BIFAN offered to show the movie.”

The cast includes young Vietnamese actors who are hugely popular among the teen audience, such as Miu Lê, Ngô Kiến Huy, Jun Phạm, Hoàng Yến Chibi, Hạ Anh, Lan Phương, Tú Vi, Văn Anh, and guest star pop singer Trúc Nhân. Its original soundtrack is composed by singer-songwriter Vũ Cát Tường, and the movie has been produced by CJ Entertainment and Yeah 1 CMG. “We hope it is a ticket to take the audience back to their glorious childhood days and youth,” a member of the production team said.

First held in 1997, the BIFAN has become iconic of Bucheon city and is a cultural holy land. Every year, BIFAN introduces 300 movies of different genres from across the world, helping many projects gain visibility and success. For The Girl Who Comes From Yesterday, it is a great opportunity to be introduced to international filmmakers and audience. – VNS