Vuong Duc (C) directs a scene in Rung den. The film has been officially dismissed from entering the next Academy Awards.

The only potential Vietnamese candidate to compete in the 81st Academy Awards next February has lost the right to enter the prestigious movie industry event.

The ministry’s Department of Cinematography said the feature, directed by Vuong Duc, could not meet the September 30 deadline to be screened at a commercial cinema in Vietnam, one of the prerequisite to be eligible to compete in the Oscars.

The department said there would be no deadline extension for the film.

Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Le Tien Tho said to enter the Best Foreign Language category, a film must be screened in its home country for at least seven consecutive days at a commercial cinema between October 1, 2007 and September 30, 2008.

The screening must also register sales for the producer and distributor.

Tho said the Academy Awards are a farfetched target for Vietnam’s current developing cinema industry.

Reported by Y Nguyen