A Vietnamese film is among three independent movies to be chosen for funding by the World Cinema Fund (WCF) – an initiative of the Berlin International Film Festival.

Di’s “Bi, Don’t Be Afraid” and “Independencia” by Filipino director Raya Martin will receive $63,000 each, while “Primitive: Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives,” by director Apichatpong Weerasethakul from Thailand, has been granted $75,000.

“Bi, Don’t Be Afraid” has competed in several film festivals around the world including Cannes 2008 and the Pusan International Film Festival 2007 (PIFF).

The film was also honored as an Asia Outstanding Project by the Pusan Promotion Plan at PIFF.

Founded in October 2004 by the German Federal Cultural Foundation (GFCF), WCF is an initiative of GFCF and the Berlin International Film Festival in cooperation with the Goethe-Institute to support film-makers from Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, Central Asia, Southeast Asia and the Caucasus.

To date, 52 projects have received production or distribution funding among 928 projects submitted from 69 countries.

Director Phan Dang Di, whose film “Bi, Don’t Be Afraid” has been chosen for funding by the World Cinema Fund

Reported by Phuong Anh