Vietnamese films to be screened at International Film Festival in Spain

Five Vietnamese films will be on screen at the 11th Imagineindia International Film Festival (IIFF), to be held from May 17-31, 2013 in Madrid City, Spain.

The films include a documentary entitled ‘Duong Ra Phia Truoc’ (The Way Ahead) and four feature films namely ‘Con Chim Vanh Khuyen’ (The White-Eye Bird), ‘Canh Dong Hoang’ (The Fallow Field), ‘Nga Ba Dong Loc’ (Dong Loc T-junction) and ‘Bao Gio Cho Den Thang Muoi’ (When does October Come).

The cinematic works, released between 1962 and 1997 with the participation of Vietnamese veteran directors, actors and actresses, have received many accolades at domestic and international film festivals, as well as won appreciation from both cinema critics and viewers.

The IIFF will feature three sections for films by directors from India, Asia and other countries. Retrospective programmes will also take place during the event to introduce cinema lovers to assorted films by different film producers from around the world.

Jade Buddha statue goes on show

A huge jade Buddha statue, about 1.6m high and weighing 2 tonnes, will be displayed at Cultural Friendship Palace in Ha Noi from November 22 to 24 to celebrate Viet Nam Buddhist Congress. It features Buddha Tran Nhan Tong sitting on a lotus with a gold-inlaid face.

Tran Nhan Tong, the Tran dynasty's third king, reigned for 15 years and was followed by his son. He founded the Truc Lam Zen sect.

The statue, completed on Monday after more than 4 months' work at Vinh Nghiem Pagoda, HCM City, was made from a jade block imported from Canada.

Short story wins Danish prize

Junior Nguyen Ngoc Linh was awarded first prize for her short story Perfect Triangle yesterday at a writing contest launched in 2011-12 by the Danish embassy and Kim Dong Publishing House for children from three to 14 years of age.

Vu Thuy Dung and Pham Dieu Ngoc won second prize in the comics category.

At the awards ceremony, the 2012-13 contest was announced. It will focus on the themes My Homeland Festival and Overcoming Fears.

The children's literature project started in 2006 with the goal of providing Vietnamese children with access to innovative literature.

Spanish dance troupe to perform

Spanish dance troupe Teresa Nieto en Compania will perform at Au Co Theatre tonight.

Theatre-goers can expect an evening of the best modern dance Spain has to offer.

Teresa Nieto, dancer, choreographer and director of the company since 1990, has collaborated with various directors of theatre, opera, musicals and operetta, choreographing works in both contemporary and flamenco styles.

She has won many prizes including the Culture Award given by the Community of Madrid in 2002, the National Dance Award 2004, and Villa de Madrid Award 2007.

Free tickets can be picked up from 9am to 1pm at the Spanish Embassy, No 4 Le Hong Phong Street, and from 8.30am to 4.30pm at Cervantes Institute, room 511, Building C, Ha Noi University.

Photo show features VN heritage

More than 100 photos depicting Viet Nam's natural landscapes and heritage are on display at an exhibition in Ha Noi.
The photos, selected from nearly 3,000 entries to the 2012 Viet Nam Heritage Photo Awards, provide a glimpse into the country's culture from festivals and traditional customs to daily life.

Co-organised by the Viet Nam Cultural Heritage Association and the Ha Noi Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the exhibition will last until November 19.

On October 23, the photos were shown in Phan Thiet City, central Binh Thuan Province, to raise public awareness about protecting the nation's heritage.

They will also be shown in Nha Trang, Hoi An, Ha Long, Can Tho and Ho Chi Minh City.

VNN/VNS/ND