February 10 is the deadline for film companies to send their submissions to the Vietnam Cinema Association to be eligible for the Golden Kite Awards 2009.

A scene from “Lonely” by director Bui Thac Chuyen.

According to the Vietnam Cinema Association, the organisers have received many films of various categories, except for feature films. The association’s representative said film companies often submit their films at the deadline.

There were 8 celluloid feature films produced in 2008, namely Moon at the Bottom of the Well, Untitled Love Story, The Legend is Alive, Saving the Death, Beautiful in Every Centimeter, Lonely, Lieutenant, and Don’t Burn, It Has Fire Inside. It is certain that three of them will not race for the Golden Kite Awards because they are not finished yet.

Director Bui Thac Chuyen said Lonely is now in the final stage of production, and scheduled to finish this May. Hong Ngat, Director of the HODA Film, stated that Don’t Burn, It Has Fire Inside is now in Thailand for the final stage of production. The film will go to cinematheques in late April. Lieutenant is in the same circumstance and it will be introduced in April as well.

The latest celluloid feature film produced in 2008 is Passport to Love, but it is also thought will not attend the Golden Kite Awards. Irene Trinh, the representative of Wonderboy Entertainment, said the producer places top priority in distributing the film in Vietnam.

Therefore, only four films are likely to struggle for the Golden Kite Award this year, Moon at the Bottom of Well by director Nguyen Vinh Son, Giai Phong Film Studio, and three films introduced this Tet holiday, Legend is Alive by Luu Huynh, Phuoc Sang Film, Saving the Death by Nguyen Quang Dung, Thien Ngan Film, and Beautiful in Every Centimeter by Vu Ngoc Dang, BHD Film.

Phuoc Sang, Director of the Phuoc Sang Film, told VietNamNet that he is ready to send Legend is Alive to the Golden Kite Awards. The representative of BHD Film, Chau Quang Phuoc, said the film doesn’t plan to send Beautiful in Every Centimeter to this contest.

Production Manager of Saving The Death, Dinh Thanh Huong, said Thien Ngan planed to submit this movie to the contest but it is now at cinematheques so Thien Ngan couldn’t send the film to the Golden Kite Awards early.

Experts say that Moon at the Bottom of Well is the most promising movie this year because it represented Vietnam at some international film festivals and brought the Best Actress Award to Hong Anh at the Dubai International Film Festival last December.

The Golden Kite Awards Ceremony will be organised at the Hanoi Friendship Palace on March 14.

Bich Hanh