Young people and students around the country are encouraged to participate in the HCM City Short Film Contest 2020, which was launched by the HCM City Cinematography Association with its partners this week. (Photo from the contest’s organiser)

The event’s theme is “HCM City -- I Love You”.  It aims to promote young filmmakers and introduce HCM City to people through movies. 

Contestant teams will compete in the three categories of documentary films, feature films and animations. Each team will send its work on different themes capturing life and people. Films featuring stories related to young people and their hopes, dreams and challenges today are encouraged. 

Topics about HCM City’s history, culture and lifestyle are also included. 

A feature film should be no more than 30 minutes long. Works in documentary and animation should be less than 10 minutes. 

Organisers will give top awards for Best Film, Best Director and Best Cinematography in each category. 

A group of movie stars and talented film producers, directors and camera operators from film studios and cinematography schools in Hanoi and HCM City will join the jury. 

A series of seminars, forums and screenings will be organised in November and December. 

“Through our event, the HCM City Short Film Contest 2020, amateurs and professionals will have a chance to explore their creativity,” said Duong Cam Thuy, chairwoman of the HCM City Cinematography Association. 

“We hope our contest will encourage young people to discover and improve their knowledge about HCM City and its people,” she said. 

According to Thuy, the contest will be organised every two years. 

Many young filmmakers participated in the 48 Hour Film Project (48HFP) in Vietnam last year. The event attracted more than 2,000 filmmakers in Vietnam, mostly young people and students from art schools. Photo from the organiser

Last year, the 48 Hour Film Project (48HFP), an international short film contest launched in Washington in 2001 by Mark Ruppert and Liz Langston, attracted more than 2,000 filmmakers in Vietnam, mostly young people and students from art schools.

The organiser invited Cloud 9 Production and HK Film, two of HCM City’s leading private film companies, to work as the contest’s producers. 

The 48HFP began in Vietnam in 2010 and has since then produced 1,000 works. In 2013, it attracted film director and producer Phillip Noyce as a member of its jury. 

The two-day HCM City Short Film Contest 2020 will open in the city on November 23. VNS

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