HCM CITY — Ten people have been selected to compete in the finale of the Nhà Biên Kịch Tài Năng (Talented Screenwriter) contest next week.

The finalists will present their scripts to prestigious Vietnamese film producers on October 24 to win a cash prize of VNĐ60 million (US$2,600) and a year of 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 film Fan Cuồng (Fanatic).

The top three finalists will take part in a short filmmaking course in South Korea.

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

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.

This year’s contest saw 4,023 entries. The organiser and professional filmmakers selected the 20 best contestants to study screenplay writing and filmmaking with five coaches.

The coaches include director and screenwriter Kay Nguyễn, director Đinh Tuấn Vũ, director Lý Hải, screenwriter Trần Khánh Hoàng, and the filmmaker partners Đức Thịnh and Thanh Thúy.

Director Vũ said: “This year’s contest saw inspirational and unique ideas. We found it difficult to choose the best 20.”

“I am impressed with topics from the young contestants. They worked hard and accepted risk to create quality screenplays,” he said.

Vũ said the Vietnamese film industry would see more quality movies in the near future. — VNS