On June 22, the Cinema Department launched a contest on scripts for feature and documentary films in 2023-2024 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the Communist Party of Vietnam (February 3, 1930 – February 3, 2030).

The organizing board said there will be a first prize for feature film, worth VND80 million, and a first prize for documentary film, worth VND40 million.

The contestants can be Vietnamese citizens, Vietnamese people living, studying and working in Vietnam or overseas; or foreigners living, studying or working legally in Vietnam. There is no limit on the age of contestants.

The scripts for the contest must be newly composed works, which have not been registered for any competition for the production of films using the state budget at central and local levels, radio and television stations, ministries, branches or agencies. The scripts must not have won prizes at any screenwriting competition, domestic or international, and must not have been used before.

The scripts for documentary films must be from 30 to 45 minutes, and the scripts for feature films 90-120 minutes.

Nguyen Thi Hong Ngat, a famous screenwriter, said that the promised award is not commensurate with the stature of the big competition.

“Why doesn’t the Department of Cinema think of offering an award of VND100 million to encourage screenwriters, though we understand that it will be very difficult to obtain such a prize?” Ngat said.

The other attendants at the event also commented that the awards to be given to second prize winners, VND50 million, are small compared with the stature of the competition.

Analysts say writing scripts is not a problem for screenwriters, but production is anticipated to be a very difficult process. Policies on treating artists when films are put into production are needed.

Thanh affirmed that the award of VND80 million is not small compared with the Bong Sen Vang (Golden Lotus) Award of VND40 million.

“With the current limited budget, VND80 million is reasonable,” Thanh said, adding that in the last two years, the state has only allocated budget for three movies.

The organizing board will begin receiving scripts from February 1, 2024 until the end of April, 2024. The final round will last from July 30, 2024 to August 30, 2024. After selecting excellent scripts for awarding in September 2024, the Cinema Department will seek suitable film studios to produce films.

Tinh Le