Television festival kick-offs in Can Tho

The 30th National Television Festival kicks-off today in the southern province of Can Tho, showcasing the best television works produced by State-owned television stations and private studios.

The seven-day festival will offer more than 700 entries in 10 genres including trailers, that will be making their first appearance at the festival.

"It's good news that trailers will be shown at the festival for the first time. Trailers will make a big contribution to advertising television shows," said Ha Nam, deputy-head of the organisation board.

Judges, chaired by Deputy Head of the Cinematography Department Le Ngoc Minh, have already started reviewing the multiple episode category (10-30 episodes), that includes Viet Nam Television FiIm Centre's Silver Swamp, Viet Nam Multimedia Corporation's Perhaps Because of Love, and Tran Gia Studio's At the End of the Rainbow.

For the first time, individual prizes for television series will be presented, including Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress and Best Cameraman.

The organisation board will also present 35 Gold Awards, 48 Silver Awards and 120 certificates of merit.

Four workshops and two exhibitions will be included as part of the festival. The workshops will discuss how to improve television programmes on ethnic people, children and digital technology television.

Representatives from foreign television broadcasters such as Australia's ABC; China's CCTV; South Korea's KBS; Japan's NHK and the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) will attend the seminars.

"This festival will focus on workshops which will be of great help to local television stations. We aim to improve the quality of television programmes in the future," said Vu Van Hien, general director of Viet Nam Television.

The opening ceremony will be broadcast live on VTV1 at 8pm tomorrow night.

Variety show restages history

A narration of Viet Nam's mythical origins and history through dance, circus performances and martial arts is being staged at the September 23 Park in HCM City.

Xin Chao! (Hello), a production of the Xin Chao Art Performance Company, aims to offer foreign tourists to HCM City glimpses into the nation's culture and history in a new form.

The show is directed by American Laura Burke, who has written scripts for Hollywood films for 30 years and has lived in Viet Nam for eight years.

The 90-minute work features Viet Nam's mythological origins expressed though the story of Lac Long Quan-Aâu Co (Dragon Father and Fairy Mother) as also the valiant acts of national heroins Hai Ba Trung (Two Trung Sisters).

Fifty performers, including the country's top acrobats, martial artists and traditional and contemporary dancers will perform in the show that is being staged every night at 2 Pham Ngu Lao Street, District 1. Tickets at VND200,000 (US$10) for Monday through Tuesday, and VND400,000 ($20) for the remaining days of the week are available at the park. Admission is free for children under five.

Musician Thanh Son wins top literary, arts prize

Musician Thanh Son of Dien Bien Province won a top prize at the national literature and arts awards held in Ha Noi on Saturday.

Son received the prestigious "A" award for his song Nhung Banh Xe Mat Troi (The Sun's Wheels), which uses the image of a waterwheel turning day and night to portray hardworking ethnic groups from the mountains.

On the night 12 "B" prizes, 28 "C" prizes and 29 consolation prizes were given out. Eleven young authors received awards, as did 17 elderly authors.

Deputy chairman of the National Union for Vietnamese Literature and Arts Associations, Tung Dien said he was happy to see a trend this year towards winners who successfully used tradition to create their work. The fact that younger authors were doing so was particularly pleasing, he added.

Vietnamese cultural centre opens in Moscow

A Vietnamese entertainment and culinary centre - Kowloon International - opened in Moscow on Saturday.

The Vietnamese Ambassador to Russia Bui Danh Dinh and representatives of Vietnamese companies in Russia were present at the opening night which included a fashion show and performances by famous Vietnamese singers including Thanh Lam and Tan Minh.

Pham Thi Yen, chairman of the centre's Management Council said the centre wanted to help Russia's Vietnamese community to celebrate Christmas and the New Year.

"We hope the centre will become a favourite among Russians, Vietnamese and other foreigners in Moscow," said Yen.

Concert raises $30,000 for disadvantaged kids

Organisers of the fourth LoretoFest aid the outdoor music festival raised more than US$30,000 through sponsorship and attendance fees to assist disadvantaged, poor and physically and mentally challenged children through education and vocational training.

Those who attended the festival had a fun day of good music, food, beverages and other activities. Kids, in particular, were able to enjoy mini golf, face painting, X-Rock climbing, circus performances, football, netball and horse riding.

LoretoFest is the Loreto Vietnam-Australia Program's largest annual fund-raising event.

Source: VNS