Disney on Tuesday announced it was expanding its "Star Wars" universe, hiring the creators behind HBO's massive TV hit Game of Thrones to write a new series of films set in the galaxy far, far away. The Walt Disney Co said in a statement that David Benioff and D.B. Weiss would write and produce the new series, which will be separate from both the episodic Skywalker saga and the recently announced trilogy being developed by director Rian Johnson. No release dates or plot details were given. Shares in Disney, which also reported a quarterly profit that topped forecasts on Tuesday, rose nearly 3 percent in after hours trading. Kathleen Kennedy, president of Lucasfilm, said in a statement that Benioff and Weiss's "command of complex characters, depth of story and richness of mythology will break new ground and boldly push 'Star Wars' in ways I find incredibly exciting." Disney is also developing "a few" "Star Wars" television series for an upcoming streaming service from the company, … [Read more...] about New ‘Star Wars’ films on way from ‘Game of Thrones’ creators
Film
Film week celebrates patriotism
Proud history: A scene in the film Cao Hon Bau Troi (Higher Than the Sky), directed by Xuan Cuong. (Photo courtesy of Giai Phong Film Productions)Hanoi (VNA) - The Department ofCinema will organise a film week introducing films on the topics of war,patriotism and revolution.The special film screenings will be heldfrom February 3-18 across the country to celebrate the 88th anniversary of theestablishment of the Communist Party (February 3, 1930-2018).The organising board selected manysignificant documentaries and films such as Cao Hon Bau Troi (Higher Than theSky), directed by Xuan Cuong, honouring the victory of the Vietnamese army andpeople in Hanoi during the 12 days and nights fighting an onslaught from the USAir Force in 1972. The film is highly regarded by cinematic experts.Other films include Dinh Cao Chien Thang (Climaxof Victory) about the Linebacker 2 campaign in 1972, Duong Toi Doc Lap Tu Do (Wayto Independence, Freedom) directed by Le Phong Lan, Dung Dot … [Read more...] about Film week celebrates patriotism
1987′ chosen by film reporters as the best film of 2017
"1987: When the Day Comes" also earned Jang Joon-hwan best director honors at the awards ceremony, hosted by the association of film journalists, at the Korea Press Center in central Seoul. Released on Dec. 27, the historical epic has drawn more than 7 million viewers at local theaters. The best actor and actress awards went to Seol Kyung-gu of "Memoir of a Murderer" and Na Moon-hee of "I Can Speak." "Jane" by Cho Hyunhoon was named the best independent film of the year. Christopher Nolan's World War II film "Dunkirk" was chosen the best foreign film. The winners were chosen from among all the domestic and foreign films that opened last year through a vote of 90 members from 59 media companies around the country. Non-Korean films are nominated for the best foreign film category only. By Yonhap. Tags: film reporters best film of 2017 … [Read more...] about 1987′ chosen by film reporters as the best film of 2017
Film brings ancient Vietnamese script back to life
Entitled The Art of Nom, the film examines Vietnam’s culture, history, customs, and the social impact of rapid modernization in a changing world. A group of five Vietnamese artists and scholars has formed an art group called Zenei (avant-garde) to capitalize on the revival. They are Nguyen Duc Dung, Tran Trong Duong, Nguyen Quang Thang, Le Quoc Viet and Pham Van Tuan. The art of the Zenei group is inspired by the beauty and emotion of Nom characters (Photo courtesy of the Art Vietnam Gallery). They are reviving Nom, the script widely used between the 15th and 19th centuries. Zenei art is inspired by the beauty, heritage and emotion of Nom characters. In 1945, Vietnam shifted to its current phonetic script based on the Latin alphabet. Except for scholars, few Vietnamese can still read Nom. Nom was on the edge of extinction, and contemporary Vietnamese have faced losing touch with much of the nation’s past that is preserved in the archives written in Nom. … [Read more...] about Film brings ancient Vietnamese script back to life
The 6th National Environmental Film Festival concluded
Launched from November, 2013- November, 2016, the organization board received 105 films in categories of feature film, documentary film, report, scientific film and animated films. The organizers, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Vietnam Television and Vietnam Cinema Association also presented 5 A prizes, 5 B prizes and 10 encouragement awards. The event aims to raise awareness of environmental protection and create a chance for film makers to share experience on environmental filmmaking. By MAI AN – Translated by Kim Khanh Tags: The 6th National Environmental Film Festival “Khi Co oc tro ve” (When storks come back) by director Pham Hieu Thao … [Read more...] about The 6th National Environmental Film Festival concluded
21 awards presented at national environmental film festival
At the awarding ceremony. Photo: baomoi.vn Five A prizes were presented to reportages “Rung keu cuu” (Forest call) by directors Hong Anh and Ho Tri from Vietnam Television (VTV) and “Trong rung trong Ho” (Afforestation in lake) by director Huynh Nguyen from Binh Phuoc province’s broadcasting and television. Science film “Hoi sinh” (Revival) by director and meritorious artist Nguyen Hong Quang from VTV along with documentary film “Nguoi di tim ngot trong man” (Farmer seeks salt-resistant rice varieties) by director Nguyen Xuan Giang from An Giang province’s broadcasting and television, and cartoon “Buoc qua hai the gioi” (Stepping through two worlds) by director and meritorious artist Nguyen Bao Quang from Vietnam Cartoon also got A prizes. The “Green Vietnam” prize went to “Khi Co oc tro ve” (When storks come back) by director Pham Hieu Thao from Dong Thap province’s broadcasting … [Read more...] about 21 awards presented at national environmental film festival
Winners of Environmental Film Festival honoured
In particular, the festival’s jury presented one 'Green Vietnam' prize, the highest prize, to a documentary by Director Pham Hieu Thao from Dong Thap Broadcasting and Television Station. In addition, the organising board also granted one A prize, one B prize and two consolation prizes for each category. The entries reflected topics such as the environmental pollution of land, water and air in urban and rural areas; experience in waste collection and treatment; prevention of sand and gravel exploitation, environmental protection in river basins; forest and biodiversity protection; the protection of the marine environment; and climate change response. Launched from June 5, 2016 to November 5, 2016, this year’s festival attracted 105 films competing in five categories including TV reports, documentaries, science, animation and feature on environment. The sixth National Environmental Film Festival was launched by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, with the … [Read more...] about Winners of Environmental Film Festival honoured
Vietnamese American film director Gauger dies of stroke
Vietnamese American film director Stephane Gauger of Yêu Đi, Đừng Sợ (Kiss and Spell) has died of a stroke at the age of 48, according to a representative from the production team behind the movie. Vietnamese American film director Stephane Gauger of Yêu Đi, Đừng Sợ (Kiss and Spell) died of a stroke at the age of 48, according to a representative from the production team behind the movie. — Photo thegioidienanh.vnColleagues and friends have expressed their shock at the sudden death of the director, as he seemed to be in good health. As recently as a month ago, Gauger was still active with film events and festivals in Đà Nẵng.“Gauger was talking with friends at his home and suffered a sudden pain in his chest. He went upstairs to take a rest and when his friends came to check on him, he was unconscious. He was taken to the hospital but never woke up. Everyone is shocked,” Vũ Quỳnh … [Read more...] about Vietnamese American film director Gauger dies of stroke
Films about Vietnamese myths to hit cinemas in December
The first project, Than Dong Dat Viet (Vietnamese Prodigies), based on Vietnamese folk stories, will begin filming next month and is expected to be released in December. The film’s screenplay is based on a comic series of the same name by young artists from Phan Thi Company. The work includes historic events and famous characters of different periods of the country’s history, such as Le Quy Don, a poet, encyclopaedist and government official who lived in the 18th century, and Luong The Vinh, a mathematician and poet under the Le Dynasty. The first of the 200 parts was published in 2002. Producer Van, owner of VAA, a film and entertainment agency, has completed a copyright deal with the publisher Tre and Phan Thi Company. The casting for the film began next week, according to Van. Another three projects will be based on popular myths called Thach Sanh (The Story of Thach Sanh), Thanh … [Read more...] about Films about Vietnamese myths to hit cinemas in December
Vietnam’s young filmmakers live comfortably, but their films are gloomy
A generation of young Vietnamese filmmakers is now obsessed with exploring the depths of human emotions, but they appear to have missed the happier part of the spectrum. At a conference on the sidelines of the 20th Vietnam Film Festival in November 2017, a senior filmmaker expressed her surprise that many young filmmakers in Vietnam have chosen to delve into such dismal themes as if they had just personally experienced a traumatic shock, while in fact they had grown up in the comfort of a loving family. This is in stark contrast to their predecessors, who always managed to look on the bright side of life and to infuse that optimistic outlook into their cinematic works even in the face of wartime terror and financial hardship, other directors asserted at the conference. “Why is it that the young generation has a tendency to make such gloomy films while their life is arguably more comfortable than that of their forebears?” Ngoc Diep, a columnist for … [Read more...] about Vietnam’s young filmmakers live comfortably, but their films are gloomy