123 films to compete at Hanoi International Film Festival

Vi Kien Thanh, director of the Cinema Department, said the jury will narrow the selection down to 11 feature-length and 20 short films for nominations.

The organizers have not announced the jury members and international guests.

“Hoa Nhai” (Jasmine), directed by Dang Nhat Minh and released this year, is the only local film competing for top honors this year.

The director said he wanted to make a low-budget movie about Hanoians because of how the city has changed since so many people from different places have moved here.

The interpersonal connections between characters are the focal point of many of the film’s segments. A shoe-shine, hairdresser, teacher from Hanoi and others all help paint a picture of a thriving and idyllic metropolis. At 84 years old, Minh said this is his final work.

This year’s organizers maintained the most prestigious prizes, like Best Film, Best Director, Best Actor, and Best Actress for both feature-length and short films.

All submitted entries will be shown at no cost in the National Cinema Center (87 Lang Ha Street), CGV Vincom Center (54 Nguyen Chi Thanh), and BHD Star Cinema (Vincom Pham Ngoc Thach). All three venues are in Hanoi.

During the festival, there will be a variety of film-related workshops and panels open to attendees and young filmmakers.

Celebrities from Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, India, France, the U.S. and others had attended previous editions of the festival.