ĐÀ NẴNG — Filmmakers and cinema experts at the seminar Việt Nam Film Festival in National Cinema Development, held alongside the 20^th National Film Festival, agreed that the event has evolved over the years to increasingly reach international standards.

The seminar attracted managers, filmmakers, experts, producers and artists from the whole country. Though the film festival was first held in 1970, this year marked the first time it has included an event to review the role and significance of the festival in the history of Việt Nam’s cinema development.

"The film festival has been meaningful to encourage and orient filmmakers making their contributions to develop the national cinema industry," said Ngô Phương Lan, head of the Việt Nam Department of Cinema, at the seminar. "The film festival has changed its slogan to suit each period of its nearly 50-year history. It is closely approaching standards of international film festivals in the world."

At the seminar, participants discussed the role of the national film festival in recognising and promoting the country’s best cinematographic works before and after unification in 1975. The festival supported revolutionary heroism-themed movies and honoured them during the war time. After the war and during the renewal period, the film festivals have highlighted movies that addressed contemporary social issues and the struggles of post-war society.

"The film festivals have shown movies which help movie-goers get to know more about the national history," said People’s Artist Đặng Nhật Minh. 

Awarding-winning works at the film festivals have not only become subjects for researchers and curricula at art schools, but also represent Vietnamese cinema at the regional and international film festivals and film awards.

The 20th film festival launches the ASEAN Film Awards for the first time to mark the 50th anniversary of the founding of ASEAN. The two festivals illustrate the potential for national film festivals to support regional and international integration, according to film critic Trần Luân Kim, former chairman of Việt Nam Cinema Association.

"Screening and awarding ASEAN movies within the festival’s framework is a good idea," said Kim.

The ASEAN Film Awards will honour the best movie from nine submissions by Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. The awards will be announced at the film festival closing ceremony on Tuesday.

The participants also discussed how to make the film festival popular and the importance of having favourable conditions for promoting filmmaking. Film producers also expressed that they need support from the cinema department to increase their competitiveness and reduce financial pressure.

Themed Building A Modern and Human Movie Industry, the 20^th National Film Festival includes activities such as free outdoor screenings, seminars, an exhibition on Vietnamese cinema and exchanges between actors, directors, producers and audiences. — VNS