A scene in the film Hạnh Phúc Của Mẹ (The Happiness of a Mother), directed by Phạm Huỳnh Đông.  — Photo courtesy of CGV Vietnam

HÀ NỘI — As many as 30 Vietnamese films will be screened for free in Hà Nội and HCM City on November 6-12 to celebrate the Việt Nam Film Festival.

The 21st film festival will be held on November 23-27 in the southern province of Bà Rịa - Vũng Tàu. With the theme “Building a Vietnamese cinema industry with humanity, creativity and integration", the festival will comprise film screenings and competitions. It also includes meetings between viewers, students and artists; and exhibitions featuring islands and sea through cinema.

The Cinema Department is hosting the free film week to promote Vietnamese films to local and foreign audiences. All films are presented in Vietnamese with English subtitles.

The opening ceremony of the film week will take place on November 6 at the National Cinema Centre, with the screening of the film Hạnh Phúc Của Mẹ (The Happiness of a Mother), directed by Phạm Huỳnh Đông. It’s a moving story of a mother with terminal cancer. She tries her best to help her little son who is diagnosed with autism.

Other blockbusters include Hai Phượng (Furie) which represents Vietnamese cinema at the Oscars, Song Lang (The Tap Box), Tháng Năm Rực Rỡ (Go Go Sisters), Anh Thầy Ngôi Sao (My Superstar Teacher) and Người Bất Tử (The Immortal).

Free tickets can be collected at the National Cinema Centre, 87 Láng Hạ Street, Hà Nội; and DCINE Bến Thành, 6 Mạc Đĩnh Chi Street, HCM City. The schedule of screenings can be seen at chieuphimquocgia.vn and dcine.vn. — VNS