VietNamNet Bridge – Aiming to build a strong network among film commissions and location support organizations and contribute to the overall development of the Asian film industry, the Asian Film Commission Network (AFCNet) is urging Vietnam to become its 17th member.
At the invitation of the Center for Research and Support Cultural Development, AFCNet’s executive manager and chairman, Oh Seok Geun, paid a visit to Vietnam in late August. He met with officials of the Center for Research and Support Cultural Development, the Vietnam Cinema Agency and the Vietnam Cinema Association to discuss the plan to turn Vietnam into a member of the AFCNet.

This network, based in Busan (South Korean), currently has 16 members, including six Southeast Asian nations - Singapore, Malaysia, Cambodia, Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines. The network organizes three meetings annually, in March in Hong Kong, in June in the USA and in October at the Busan International Film Festival.

In recent decades, the Korean movie industry has risen powerfully. Besides Hallyu (idol) movie wave, which is very popular to Asian countries, Korean widescreen films have also won prizes at international film festivals like Cannes, Venice or Berlin. Korean film directors have built up their fame in the world, such as Park Kwang Su, Kim Ki Duk, Park Chan Wook, Hong Sang Soo, Lee Chang Dong and Bong Joon Ho.

Vietnam’s movie industry has left good impression at the Busan International Film Festival in recent years, such as “The White Silk Dress”, which won the Audience’s Choice Award in 2007, “Floating Lives”, “Here or There” and “Bi, Don’t Be Afraid”.

Joining the AFCNet, Vietnamese film-makers will have a chance to exchange experience, seek finance and cooperate with other members.

After the 16th Busan International Film Festival in October 2011, Oh Seuk Geun and AFCNet’s representatives will return to Hanoi in November or December to discuss Vietnam’s membership to AFCNet.

PV