Le Hang readies for finals at world model contest

The level of competition for Dang Thi Le Hang, 21, from Danang City is intensifying as December 2, the final night of the Max Elite Model Look world title modelling competition, nears.

Hang is vying with 60 other models in China for the Max Elite Model Look world title and a chance to win a three-year contract to work in the international modelling world for Max, a worldwide leading fashion brand.

Taking part in the contest, she has learned new skills to enhance her performance and style, Hang shared.

Created in 1983, the Elite Model Look has become one of the most prestigious international modelling contests, which has propelled many aspiring and up-and-coming talents to become international top models.

Park Hyatt to host DJ Smokin Jo’s shows

Female DJ pioneer Smokin Jo, one of the most sought-after DJs in the dance music scene from the UK, will stage four performances at the Park Hyatt Saigon Hotel from on November 25 until Friday.

She won the most wanted DJ of the Year award by DJ magazine and remains the only female DJ in the world to have achieved this. With an impressive career spanning 20 years, she has brought her sound to some of the most prestigious night clubs in London, New York, Tokyo, Brazil, Berlin and Singapore, among others.

From five-star hotel launch to underground party, Jo’s mind-blowing sound always keeps her audience dancing through the night.

Audiences can come to enjoy her shows from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. on November 25 and tomorrow and from 9 p.m. till midnight on Thursday and Friday.

The Park Hyatt Saigon Hotel is located at 2 Lam Son Square, District 1, HCMC.

Hanoi Art Mart makes its debut

Hanoi’s grooviest art scene is set to premiere for the first time ever at the Hang Da Trade Centre, December 5-28, with artworks of more than 59 artists.

The event, organized by Cuci Fine Art in co-ordination with the Hang Da Trade Centre, promises to be a place for art lovers of all ages to meet artists, partake in art chat and a wide variety of interesting and creative activities.

Hanoi displays photos on Vietnamese heritages

As many as 100 photographs, which are the best works selected from the 3rd Vietnam Heritage Photo Awards contest, are being displayed at an exhibition that opened in Hanoi on November 25.

The photos on show lively depict Vietnam’s typical natural and cultural heritages, bringing visitors to landscapes nationwide, with different cultural identities, beautiful sceneries, and habits and customs.

After more than two months of launching, the contest received over 4,400 entries from 477 photographers, focusing on natural heritages, tangible and intangible cultural heritages.

The photos have been exhibiting in 20 tourist sites, museums and universities in more than 10 provinces and cities across the countries from October 22 to early 2015.

It is part of the activities to mark the 10th anniversary of Vietnam Cultural Heritage Day (November 23), contributing to calling for the community’s joint hands in discovering and preserving original values of Vietnamese cultural heritages.

Good scripts make good films: experts

Young aspiring filmmakers learned about visual narrative from Vietnamese and international artists yesterday at a workshop during the third Ha Noi International Film Festival.

Screenwriter Uli Gaulke talked about how to find scripts for documentary and fiction movies, and British director Joe Lawlor shared stories from his 25-year career in the industry during the festival's Talent Campus, a series of lectures and workshops that brought together industry professionals and students.

Seminar participants raised questions about the difficulties they've faced creating their first films. They asked what makes a good film, how they should handle arguments during film-making and what a good relationship between a screenwriter and a director looks like.

Lawlor said one of the biggest challenges in screenwriting was making the words really come alive.

"Cinema is complicated," Lawlor said. "The creative process is important, and how you tell the story is much more important than what the story actually is."

Cho Young-jik, a South Korean director of photography, surprised audience members when he said he only spent eight days shooting his last movie, directed by celebrated and controversial filmmaker Kim Ki-duk.

The film, Pieta, won the Golden Lion award for best film at the 2012 Venice Film Festival.

"Working with Kim Ki-duk was a new experience for me," Cho said. "He let me take all responsibility in photography. But only he gave me four days to prepare everything. Normally this work is done over three to four months."

The award-winning movie had a very low budget – US$300,000 – and drew about 800,000 viewers in South Korea, Cho said. Blockbuster movies generally get 5-10 million viewers.

Director Nguyen Hoang Diep, the workshop's chairwoman, shared stories about her first feature film, Dap Canh Giua Khong Trung (Flapping in The Middle of Nowhere), which won the 2014 Venice Film Festival's Critics' Week award.

Diep spoke about the journey it took for her to write her script, which was awarded a top prize during the 2012 Ha Noi film festival.

"The Talent Campus was a precious chance for me to be selected by foreign producers," Diep said.

Aspiring film makers should focus on finding funding for their films themselves, and not wait for foreign investments, she said.

Another seminar focused on film co-operation between Viet Nam and other countries. Vietnamese and foreign filmmakers reviewed movies made in Viet Nam in recent years.

Viet Nam is a destination for French filmmakers, said Thierry Lenouvel, one of the producers of Flapping in the Middle of Nowhere.

"The movie's success at international film festivals proves how effective co-operation between Vietnamese and foreign filmmakers can be," Lenouvel said.

Foreign filmmakers at the seminar said they hoped to find potential Vietnamese partners for future films during the festival.

"Vietnamese landscapes promise a spectacular background for foreign filmmakers," said Nguyen Thi Hong Ngat, deputy head of the Viet Nam Cinematography Association.

"Vietnamese cinema has developed step by step, but Viet Nam needs to promote international co-operation to produce more good films."

A photo exhibition on Vietnamese destinations being held at Daewoo Hotel until November 27 aims to showcase the country's natural landscape to filmmakers.

Intergovernmental session promotes safeguarding intangible cultural heritage

Understanding intangible cultural heritages of different communities contributes significantly to promoting dialogue and mutual respect among cultures.

The affirmation was made by Chairman of the UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, Jose Manuel Rodriguez Cuadros, at the opening ceremony of its ninth session in Paris, France on November 24.

The session draws the participation of 974 delegates from 129 countries around the world.

The delegation from Vietnam consists of Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Dang Thi Bich Lien; representatives from the hometown of Vi-Giam folk songs including Vice Chairman of Ha Tinh province Nguyen Thien and Vice Chairwoman of Nghe An province Dinh Thi Le Thanh; and various cultural experts.

The Chairman Rodríguez Cuadros appreciated the 161 countries’ efforts in adopting and practicing the UNESCO’s Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage. The event offers a good opportunity for all communities to actively engage with one another.

During the five-day session (November 24 – 28), delegates will hear 27 reports on practicing the 2003 Convention, eight reports on intangible heritage elements in Need of Urgent Safeguarding, and reports on the use of international assistance from the Intangible Cultural Heritage Fund.

The Committee will also discuss 46 nominations for UNESCO’s recognition as World Intangible Cultural Heritages of Humanity, including Nghe Tinh Vi-Giam folk singing from Vietnam.

Vi, Giam folk music is a repartee sung while working. It reflects the work, cultural lives and feelings of the residents in the central coastal provinces. Vi-Giam singing is popular in nearly 260 villages in the central provinces of Nghe An and Ha Tinh.