The 5th Hanoi International Film Festival (HANIFF), themed “Cinema – Integration and Sustainable Development”, opened at the Cultural Friendship Palace on October 27.

Opening the event, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Ngoc Thien said the 5th HANIFF honours the true cinematic talents and looks towards human values and sincere cooperation.

Its categories have been expanded to welcome films from all countries and territories, thus creating a big opportunity for Vietnamese and global cinematic artists to share experience to help develop cinema in the country and around the world, he noted.

This year’s festival features 147 outstanding films from nearly 50 countries and territories, including more than 40 films of Vietnam. Many of them have never been screened at other Asian film festivals.

Aside from entries vying for awards, the biennial event also has a non-competition section with outdoor film screening, exchanges, and a fashion show. In this section, seminars will introduce Polish cinema and share success experience of Iranian films.

Other activities include a project market, a script-writing camp, and an exhibition on filming locations in Vietnam.

Japanese film “Shoplifters” directed by Hirokazu Koreeda opened the festival.

The screenings will take place at the National Cinema Centre (No. 87, Lang Ha street), the Thang Tam cinema (No.45, Hang Bai street), the Kim Dong cinema (No. 19, Hang Bai street) , and the BHD Star Vincom cinema (No. 2, Pham Ngoc Thach street).

The 5th HANIFF, held by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Hanoi People’s Committee, will last through October 31.-VNA