Free showing of blockbuster The Rebel

Film lovers will not have to pay to watch local blockbuster “Dong Mau Anh Hung” (The Rebel) by Vietnamese American director Charlie Nguyen this Saturday from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Saigon International Film School (SIFS) in HCMC’s Binh Thanh District.

The free film showing is part of a project called “Xem phim chieu thu 7” (watching movies on Saturday afternoon) and held bimonthly by SIFS. Participants can watch popular movies of Vietnam or foreign countries and discuss with invited guests like leading directors and scriptwriters and experts in the industry.

Charlie Nguyen created the film in 2007 and received great applause from audiences for a combination of commercial and art features. Action scenes and martial arts of Vietnam were a big bonus to the movie which won grand prize at the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival in 2007.

The movie helped shoot Charlie’s younger brother, actor Johnny Tri Nguyen, and actress Ngo Thanh Van, to stardom in local showbiz. After this movie, other works of Charlie Nguyen, including Long Ruoi, De Mai Tinh, and Teo Em were also big hits.

Audiences can register for the program at http://link.sifs.edu.vn/xemphimlan13.

SIFS is located at 15A Hoang Hoa Tham Street, Binh Thanh District, HCMC.

For more details, visit www.sifs.edu.vn or call 096 515 2310.

Da Funkalism, all-style dance contest, at city

Nearly 150 Vietnamese dancers will take part in the UFO II – Da Funkalism, a dance competition featuring popping, b-boy and freestyle dance. It will be held at the Phu Tho Gymnasium on March 30.

Dancers from well-known dance crews in Viet Nam will be the judges.

The event will take place from 8am to 7.45 pm at 219 Ly Thuong Kiet Street in District 10.

Eight select short films about women to show in Hanoi

Eight select short films about women, made by filmmakers from Hanoi Doclab, will be showing at Hanoi Goethe Institute at 6:30 p.m. on March 23.

To artists of the younger generation, these films are often referred to as “women’s cinema”. Women’s cinema is a term easily referring to feminism, minority and otherness which have been widely circulated in film communities. However, in this series of films, the term will not be an obstacle to your journey through a diversity of visual worlds as audiences might encounter feminine society or feminist elements and visual performances beyond gendered framing as well.

The Fiction by Ngo Thanh focuses on gender issues and pushes the director to never stop questioning the authenticity of the value which society has imposed on genders, as well as the limits and conflicts within herself. The next film Friendgrandma by Pham Mai Phuong follows a 90-year-old grandma and 25-year-old granddaughter hang out together and find themselves surrounded by happiness and special friendship.

Ramblings by Pham Thu Hang is a story about a girl trapped inside her own loneliness - living away from family all by herself in an old apartment, patiently searching and waiting for love to come from somewhere. Meanwhile, Marriage prayer by Nguyen Huong Tra is a dialogue about marriage as a risky adventure as no one can know what will happen.

Lady piano by Da Huong Thao follows a 65-year-old-woman who struggles through hardships and wars, finally brings her childhood dream of learning to play piano as her childhood dream. Grandfather by Dong Huong Thao talks that languages and actions preserve relationships, but people need to learn how to listen so that we can be together. The gifts by Nguyen Phuong Thao is a direct dialogue between the director and the characters about a well-known, open structure, yet strange topic: sex. By choosing to film in an open structure, the director shares an experience with the viewer and together they discover stories which will never personally belong to them.

The Kitchen by Chu Kim Duc is a feeling about a kitchen, a symbol for family’s happiness.

French beatmaker at Cargo Bar

French composer and beatmaker Superpoze will perform electronic music in Cargo Bar on March 27.

His music is inspired by French producer Mondkopf and electronic musician Mr Oizo, British musician Bonobo, and jazz and hip-hop. He has performed at the Vieilles Charrues and Montreux music festival, and has released three extended plays.

The show will begin at 9 pm at 7 Nguyen Tat Thanh Street in District 4. Tickets are VND50,000 and are available at www.ticketbox.vn

Int'l artists featured at exhibition

Vin Gallery will hold a contemporary art exhibition called One Way or Another tomorrow. The exhibition features works by 15 artists from Australia, France, India, Indonesia, Japan, Spain, the US, the UK and Viet Nam. It will close on March 30. The gallery is at 42 Le Van Mien Street in District 2.

Passionate night at Hanoi Social Club

Say Oms, a pop-soul band, will present a show on Saturday at the Hanoi Social Club.

Vocal Nerys Joseph, who leads the band with piano-driven melodies and a soulful voice, will perform highlights, including Gift Song and Come Back for Me.

Jeremy Gilbert on guitar will provide some folk-elements which will come to the fore with Assassin.

Playing mostly their own compositions, the band's performance will start at 8pm at 6 Hoi Vu Street. Tickets are available at door.

Art show supports Earth Hour

Ha Noi's Daewoo Hotel will join in the world campaign Earth Hour with an exhibition of paintings by kindergarten and elementary school children.

Entitled For Earth and Art, the show will present 100 works of art to raise funds to support underprivileged children living at My Dinh Orphanage Centre No 3.

The artworks will be on display in the hotel lobby until March 29 will be sold for VND70,000 or more.

Hanoi Int'l Theatre Society holds auditions

Anyone interested in performing on the stage is invited to attend auditions being held by the Hanoi International Theatre Society (HITS).

HITS is seeking actors – experienced, newbies, young, old – to join their latest production.

Auditions will be held on Sunday from 2.30pm at Chez Xuan Restaurant, Alley 41 of 76 An Duong Street.

Splash of colour at Indian festival

India's Holi Festival, which celebrates good over evil with a splurge of colours, will be replicated in Ha Noi on Sunday.

Organised by the Indian Business Chamber (Incham) in Viet Nam, the event will be held at American Club from 10am until 4pm.

All people are welcome to attend the unique event and get bathed in beautiful colours while having loads of fun. So it will be best to wear inexpensive white clothes that can be more easily washed.

Bollywood dances and traditional Indian food will be on offer at this "Grand Holi" celebrations.

Tickets can be bought by phoning Incham (37724248, 0903222908) or Namaste Hanoi (0439352400), Tandoor Restaurant (38245359), India Palace (37181380), Food Shop 45 (0437162959), Little India (39261859), and Nan&Kabab (62583580)

Deputy PM guides preparations for 2014 Vesak

Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has asked relevant authorities and localities to closely work with each other to ensure security and safety for the United Nations Day of Vesak (Buddha’s Birthday, Enlightenment and Passing Away) celebrations in northern Ninh Binh province, slated for May 7-12.

The official made the request at a meeting with leaders of several ministries, branches and localities, and representatives of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS) regarding the organisation of the event.

At the meeting, Deputy PM Phuc was informed that plans for security, traffic safety and fire prevention have been devised.

The government’s Committee for Religious Affairs has partnered with ministries, branches and localities to guide the VBS in carrying out essential tasks.

Under the theme of "Buddhist Perspective towards Achieving the United Nations Millennium Development Goals", the event, to take place in Bai Dinh pagoda, is being organised by the VBS in collaboration with the International Council for the Day of Vesak.

The event is expected to welcome around 5,000 guests, including 1,500 from 95 countries and territories worldwide.

This will be the second time Vietnam has hosted the event. In 2008, the Vesak celebration in Hanoi was attended by over 600 Buddhist delegations from around the world.