This marks the first time that private studios have dominated thecategory of feature films, leaving their competitors, State-owned companies,far behind.
All of the 19 feature films nominated for Golden Kite prizes wereproduced by private filmmakers.
Many young fans expect female director and producer Ngo Thanh Van’s TamCam - Chuyen Chua Ke (Tam Cam - The Untold Story) and Cuong Ngo’s TruySat (Wanted) to win at the awards ceremony.
The 20 billion VND (900,000 USD) fantasy movie Tam Cam –Chuyen Chua Ke, starring young actress Ninh Dương Lan Ngoc, winner of the2011 Golden Lotus Awards, was made with the general public in mind and juriedexperts.
The film’s visual and sound effects are expected to make it astrong contender for awards.
Based on Tam Cam, a fairy tale known as the Vietnameseversion of Cinderella, the film is about the life of an orphan girl named Tam,who is beautiful, hard working, and kind to people and animals.
Director Van, who has more than 11 years working in the industry,said she and her staff worked hard to film the action scenes.
Before being submitted for a Golden Kite, Tam Cam – ChuyenChua Ke earned around 70 billion VND (3.1 million USD) in ticketsales.
Truy Sat, a crime production directedby Vietnamese-Canadian Cuong, who graduated from York University in Toronto infilm production and directing.
The film was a hit with audiences last year.
It features the life of an inspector, played by Truong Ngoc Anh,who works underground in a drug trafficking group.
“In Truy Sat, I tried my best to portray a woman whofaces challenges to balance her family and career,” said the 40-year-old Anh.
Anh is one of the nominees for the best actress award.
Other featured films include Do Duc Thinh’s Su Menh TraiTim, Dinh Tuan Vu’s Cho Em Den Ngay Mai (Waiting for YouUntil Tomorrow), Ly Minh Thang’s Sai Gon Anh Yeu Em (Sai Gon,I Love You) and Luong Dinh Dung’s Cha Cong Con (Father andSon).
Critics are hoping for a win for independent director Dung’s90-minute film Cha Cong Con, a work about the story of a boy namedCa who has always dreamed of touching the clouds and of a father who has spenthis life fishing by the river. The film stars Do Trong Tan from the SOSChildren’s Village Viet Tri as Ca.
The 13 remaining films for the Golden Kite award all revolvearound the themes of love and social conflict.
The 2016 Golden Kite ceremony will present awards in sixcategories: feature and short films, cartoons, scientific films, documentaries,TV series and cinematography research.
The organiser received 120 entries for the competition’scategories, including best film, best director, best actor and bestactress.
A week of free screenings will begin on April 3 at Cinebox,Cinestar Quoc Thanh, CGV Thao Dien and BHD cinemas.
The ceremony will take place on April 9 at HCM City’s Army Theatreon Cong Hoa Street in Tan Binh district.-VNA