It is a good news for the local film
industry.  “Floating Lives” earned a revenue of VND17 billion (nearly $1
million) and “Bi, Don’t Be Afraid” won two prizes at the Cannes Film Festival.
However, the bad news is Megastar being sued for abusing its monopoly like
position and “Inferno” is being doubted as a copy of a Hollywood film.

Attraction of local movies

This year, 13 locally-made feature films were introduced,
the highest number to date so far. “,” “,” “,”
and “” are the most popular titles.

Revenues from “Floating Lives” and “Fool for Love” are as
high as that of Hollywood blockbusters in Vietnam. “Floating Lives” earned VND17
billion and “Fool for Love” with VND16 billion and they are the most successful
films this year. The earnings from “Floating Lives” will increase because it is
still screened at some cinemas in HCM City and other provinces.

Though local audiences have not had a chance to enjoy “Bi,
Don’t Be Afraid”, the first movie by director Phan Dang Di, this production is a
highlight of the local film industry in 2010. It won two prizes at the Cannes
Film Festival in France and some prizes at the Stockholm Film Festival in
Sweden, the Asia Film Festival in Hong Kong, etc. This film will be introduced
at 39 international film festivals next year.

Enjoying new movies at cinemas has become a hobby of many
Vietnamese. Many new cinemas have been built in big cities like Hanoi, HCM City
and Da Nang. In 2010, BHD opened two cinema complexes in Hanoi and HCM City.
Galaxy launched a new 3D room in HCM City while Megastar opened a 3D cinema in
Da Nang. Kim Dong cinema in Hanoi has just launched a 4D projection room.

This year, film producers not only make films for the New
Year film season but also films for summer and autumn. “Fool for Love” was
launched in late April, a time which was believed to be bad for introducing a
new film in Vietnam. However, the film was a huge success for a summer film. In
the US, this movie earned nearly $40,000 in early September.

“Floating Lives” is the most successful film in 2010 though
it was introduced in the fall. Another film that was launched in the autumn is
“Inferno” and it is also a success.

“Gentle as a Nun” and “Across the Shanghai” were launched
at the year end.

In 2010, the local audiences also enjoyed films of various
categories, from comedies and romantics to music and dance, from action to
psychological to thrilling and historical films.

Stars

Previously, local directors always cast celebrities to
ensure success for their films but now films have created new stars. This year,
some stars have emerged from films, for example Lan Ngoc (Floating Lives) and
Thai Hoa (Fool for Love).

Senior actor Dustin Nguyen is still brilliant this year
with two characters of different personalities in “Fool for Love” and “Floating
Lives”.

Director Phan Dang Di brought fame to Vietnam when he won
many prizes at international film festival for “Bi, Don’t Be Afraid”.

2010 is also a good year for overseas Vietnamese directors
– Charlie Nguyen with “Fool for Love”, Victor Vu with “Inferno”, Stephane Gauger
with “Saigon Yo!” and Cuong Ngo with “Fareast Pearl”.

Other names include actor Tran Bao Son who held an
impressive role in “Inferno” or Quach Ngoc Ngoan and Dinh Toan in “Thang Long
Aspiration”.

Ill fame

Besides success, there are some scandals for the local film
industry in 2010.

“”, a state-funded movie to celebrate Hanoi’s 1000^th
anniversary, missed a timely release due to conflict over the script copyright,
problems associated with capital and implementation.  Many other film projects
scheduled for the capital city’s anniversary also were suffered from a lack of
adequate planning.

In May, some local cinemas sued Megastar for raising film
leasing prices and imposing conditions for film distribution.

In mid-October, Victor Vu’s “Inferno” was accused of
copying Hollywood’s “Shattered”.

“Floating Lives” also caused controversy over the copyright
of posters.

The first Vietnam International Film Festival was
criticized for many errors, especially the translation errors of host
.

PV