For the first time the Vietnam Film Festival has included a film fair but the event has failed to attract visitors.

The quiet film festival.

Film fairs are the place for industry movers and shakers to be introduced to and purchase films but the film fair of the 16^th Vietnam Film Festival, had only several stalls and very few visitors.

This may be the first film fair in Vietnam but Vietnamese companies are experienced in taking part in film festivals. Vietnamese film companies have attended nearly all this year’s prestigious international film fairs, including the Hong Kong Film Festival. However, both in Vietnam and abroad, selling films remains a dream for Vietnamese film firms.

At film festivals, people not only sell completed films, but film projects, scripts and even promote directors and actors. In Vietnam, film business is mainly between acquaintances. The fair has also become a place where film companies showcase products to the public.

According to the organizing board, the fair has 40 stalls but in fact, the number is around 15 and they’ve received few visitors. An assistant, who asked to be anonymous, said: “There were quite a few visitors on the first day. But since the second day, the fair has been very quiet.”

Ngoc, a student from the Stage and Movie College, said: “The fair is too boring. It only screens old films, which have been aired on TV. It is strange that there is only one stall exhibiting film-making equipment. I went to the fair to see and learn but I haven’t seen anybody”.

Meanwhile, the 16^th Vietnam Film Festival has received praise for being the largest event of its type so far and for being a well-organized event.

VietNamNet/Dan Tri