VietNamNet Bridge – The Vietnam Cinema Administration and Cinema Association on March 4 decided to withdraw “Giao Lo Dinh Menh” (Inferno) directed by Vietnamese American Victor Vu from the list of nominees for the Golden Kite Award 2010.

A scene from “Inferno”.

Immediately after the movie was introduced in Vietnam, “Inferno” was criticized to copy Hollywood’s “Shattered”. Many movie fans commented on online forums that the film by Victor Vu copied up to 70 percent of “Shattered”. Vu did not just lift the plot and characters, but even the music. However, the film was still nominated for the Golden Kite Award 2010.

Facing the criticism of the public, officials of the Vietnam Cinema Administration and Vietnam Cinema Association on March 4 met to watch the movie and compare it with “Shattered”. They decided to eliminate the film from the competition after that, saying that “Inferno” has many details that are the same with the Hollywood’s movie which was produced in 1991.

Golden Kite Award is Vietnam’s most prestigious movie festival, equivalent to a local Oscar event. According to the award organizing board, since the Golden Kite Awards’ goal is to honor original creative artworks, “Inferno” is unqualified to attend this year’s competition.

However, the organizers also made a rational decision when they encouraged Saiga Film, the production company of Inferno, to voluntarily withdraw the movie because of possible damaging consequences that could arise from copyright violations, which could badly impact the Vietnam Cinema’s reputation.

On online forums, many people wrote that it is a mistake of Victor Vu and Inferno producers to try to add his film to the list of nominees of the Golden Kite Award this year because they self-stirred controversy.

As a result, the number of feature films competing in this year’s competition is reduced to ten, including Canh Dong Bat Tan (Floating Lives), Co Dau Dai Chien (War of Brides), Thien Su 99 (Angle 99), Tay Son Hao Kiet (Tay Son Heroes), Vuot Qua Ben Thuong Hai (Across Shanghai), Khat Vong Thang Long (Thang Long Aspiration), Long Thanh Cam Gia Ca (The Fate of a Songstress in Thang Long), Vu Dieu Dam Me (Dance of Passion), Hoa Dao (Peach Blossoms) and Nhin Ra Bien Ca (Looking To The Sea).

Many audiences and experts said that the real competition in the feature film category will be among four works: The Fate of a Songstress in Thang Long, Thang Long Aspiration, Looking To The Sea and Floating Lives.

A free screening of the movies is scheduled at Fafilm cinema, Tan Son Nhat Cinema and Thang Long A cinema in Ho Chi Minh City from March 10-13 and at the Vietnam Film Institute, National Cinema Center and the Central Scientific and Documentary Film Studio in Hanoi from March 12 to 14.

The awards ceremony will be held at Hoa Binh Theater in HCM City on March 13 and broadcasted live on VTV2 and VTV4 channels.

The Golden Kite Awards, which first started in 2003, is an annual event organized by Vietnam Cinema Association for feature, video and television films produced in the preceding year. The organizing board presents the Golden, Silver and Bronze Kite Awards for the best films.

Source: Tuoi Tre/VNE/VNN