Suggestions for Ho Chi Minh City to become a cinema city

Implementing the proposal of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to the Prime Minister on the "Project on Developing a Network of Creative Cities in the UNESCO Creative Cities System", the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee assigned the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism to preside over and coordinate with domestic and foreign agencies and experts to complete the application dossier to join the UNESCO Creative Cities Network in the field of cinema.

Busan Film Festival founder Kim Dong-ho at the panel discussion

On March 3, the dossier will be officially submitted to UNESCO for Ho Chi Minh City to become a member of the Creative Cities Network. If approved, Ho Chi Minh City will be the first UCCN (UNESCO Creative Cities Network) film city in Vietnam and Southeast Asia.

City residents benefit

According to Ms. Nguyen Phuong Hoa, Director of the Department of International Cooperation, Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism: "Creative culture leads to socio-economic development. Cinema is a synthesis of art forms, so becoming a cinema city will be an opportunity for Ho Chi Minh City to create jobs, increase revenue, enhance accessibility, connect society, inspire creativity, protect and maintain diversity and uniqueness, promote international cooperation, connect artists and businesses with the world market, and build a brand for the city".

Mr. Jonathan Baker, Chief Representative of UNESCO in Vietnam, commented: "Currently, there are 350 cities worldwide joining the creative network. In 2019, Hanoi was recognized as a creative city in design. Four years later, Hoi An became a creative city of handicrafts and folk arts; and Da Lat became a creative city of music. This workshop plays an important role in completing the dossier, helping Ho Chi Minh City develop sustainably in the future. No one benefits from this in the long term more than the people of the city."

Ho Chi Minh City wants to build a 300-hectare film studio

Director Nguyen Huu Tuan is concerned about the film studio issue: "Five years ago, I had the opportunity to visit the Busan film studio (South Korea) which is very large with extremely cheap rental costs: 500 USD/day, with priority given to foreign film crews. If Ho Chi Minh City had a film studio like that, it would attract capital from other countries to come here to make films, thereby attracting many support services."

The movie Tunnels: Sun in the Dark was filmed at Cu Chi studio (HCMC)

Deputy Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Culture and Sports Nguyen Thi Thanh Thuy confirmed that the city will build a creative park along the Saigon River, invest in film studios, post-production centers, and establish an online film distribution platform. The city also hopes to have many mechanisms and policies to support artists, simplify administrative procedures, provide one-stop public services, and connect with agencies and departments to make it more convenient for film crews.

"The film Tunnels: Sun in the Dark directed by Bui Thac Chuyen was filmed at the Cu Chi studio, which covers an area of ​​50 hectares. We hope to have a studio that meets international standards of at least 150 hectares. Ho Chi Minh City is proposing to build a studio at the National Cultural and Historical Park in Thu Duc City, which covers an area of ​​over 300 hectares, to develop cinema," Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh Thuy added.

According to the Chairman of the Vietnam Cinema Association, Do Lenh Hung Tu, Ho Chi Minh City needs to have a cinema museum, a film character and costume workshop, establish an international cinema training academy; send excellent students to the US and other countries to study; connect cinema with tourism, organize film festivals and markets in Ho Chi Minh City; promote digital content creation, and release films online...

Foreign delegates also contributed practical ideas. Founder of Busan Film Festival Kim Dong-ho shared his experience: "Busan Film Festival is an opportunity for young people to participate in creative works. 40% of Korean films are filmed and produced in Busan, making it the leading filming location in Korea. We have the Busan Film Council and Busan Film Academy to support cinema. I hope Ho Chi Minh City will become a film city. This is an important goal, not only promoting the film industry in Vietnam but also in Southeast Asia, becoming the center of Asian cinema".

"We have accompanied Vietnamese filmmakers, supported young talents to participate in the Cannes Film Festival, and cooperated in the production of animated films between France and Vietnam. We also helped Ho Chi Minh City promote foreign film shooting here. However, administrative procedures are still complicated, there are difficulties in importing and exporting film equipment, and there is a lack of accompanying services and complete workshops. We propose to create a filmmaking manual in Ho Chi Minh City, support the publication of this manual at major film festivals, and provide financial incentives for foreign film crews when using local resources. The French Embassy fully supports Ho Chi Minh City in joining the global network of creative cities in the field of cinema," said Mr. Jérémy Segay, Audiovisual Attaché for Southeast Asia at the French Embassy.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/gop-y-cho-tphcm-tro-thanh-pho-dien-anh-185250215211959455.htm