HCM CITY – The Nhà Biên Kịch Tài Năng (Talented Screenwriter) contest is accepting film screenplays in all genres, except science fiction, from 18 to 35-year-old Vietnamese.

Contestants can send three screenplay outlines of no more than 1,000 words each to the website https://nhabienkichtainang.com, or via email info@nhabienkichtainang.com by August 12.

In September, the organiser and professional filmmakers will announce the 20 best contestants, who will be divided into five groups of four each.

Each group will learn about screenplay writing and filmmaking with one of five coaches.

The coaches are director and screenwriter Kay Nguyễn, director Đinh Tuấn Vũ, director Lý Hải, screenwriter Trần Khánh Hoàng, and the filmmaker-director Đức Thịnh and his partner, producer Thanh Thúy.

The contest will help nurture talented writers who are needed in the local movie industry, which lacks good screenplays, according to Kay Nguyễn.  

“The contest creates an opportunity for young people to approach the movie industry, and learn how to bring their story to the big screen,” said Kay, a graduate of Grinnell College in the US who was the screenwriter and director of Cô Ba Sài Gòn (The Tailor) about the traditional áo dài. The film won the Best Feature Film at the Golden Kite Awards in April.

In mid-October, the coaches will select the best 10 scripts from 10 contestants, who will present their works to prestigious Vietnamese film producers.

The awards ceremony will be held on October 25 in HCM City.

The winner will receive a cash prize of VNĐ60 million (US$2,600) and will spend a year working with Vietnamese–American director Charlie Nguyễn.

Charlie is popular among Vietnamese audiences for his action and comedy films, such as Dòng Máu Anh Hùng (The Rebel), Để Mai Tính (Fool for Love), Cưới Ngay Kẻo Lỡ (Love Puzzle), and rock music movie Fan Cuồng (Fanatic).

The top three contestants will attend a short-term filmmaking course in South Korea.

Nhà Biên Kịch Tài Năng is co-organised by CJ CGV Vietnam and Korea-based Centre for Media Literacy and Education. It aims to nurture rising talents in the Vietnamese cinema industry

Last year, the contest saw 3,800 entries. Võ Anh Vũ won top prize with the screenplay Con Đường (Road).

Though the work is a comedy, the humorous situation acts as a metaphor for capricious conflicts in society. – VNS