Families to host regional youth in cultural exchange

HCM CITY — More than 320 youngsters from Southeast Asia and Japan will arrive in HCM City early next month for an annual cultural exchange.

The Southeast Asian Youth Programme 2010 (SSEAYP) delegation, which includes 29 from Viet Nam, left Yokohama in Japan by ship on a 52-day journey through six countries that will see the youths return to Tokyo on December 15.

The city unit of the HCM City Youth Union is preparing to receive the delegates and host the annual programme that will include music, home stay, and other events as well as charitable activities. It has chosen 60 volunteers for the purpose.

Some 170 families in the city have volunteered to house the guests during their three-day stay which will expose them to Vietnamese culture.

Le Van Minh, a Youth Union official, said several families have done this on more than one occasion, explaining the ship will be on its 11th visit to HCM City.

The visitors will discuss participation by youth in social activities, including culture, environment, international relations, education, health, food, and community development.

They have been to Malaysia and Thailand and are now in Indonesia. They will next leave for Singapore before arriving in Viet Nam on December 5.

SSEAYP, started in 1974, is a joint initiative by Japan and five founding members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) – Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand.

It seeks to strengthen friendship, co-operation, and understanding between Japanese and Southeast Asian youths to help build a peaceful, stable, and developed region.

Viet Nam joined the programme in 1996 VNS

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Vietnamese writer wins literary prize

Childhood dream: Writer Nguyen Nhat Anh signs books for his fans. — File Photo

HA NOI — Nguyen Nhat Anh is among eight writers from the region to win recognition at the Southeast Asian Writers Awards 2010.

The award ceremony was held yesterday in Bangkok to honour leading poets and writers in the ASEAN region.

The ten countries which comprise the ASEAN region are Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Viet Nam.

The author won a prize for his Give Me a Ticket Back to Childhood which was written in 2008.

"I wrote the story not only for children, but for people who used to be children," Anh said.

Anh is a Vietnamese author well-known for his engaging stories for both teenagers and adults. He also works as a teacher, a poet and a reporter.

His works are enormous, including approximately 24 short stories, two giant novel series and poetry collections.

He is regarded as one of the most successful writers for teenagers.

The story Give Me a Ticket Back to Childhood was a best-seller at the 5th HCM City book fair, with over 15,000 copies sold within 10 days.

His most well-known series Kinh Van Hoa, (Kaleidoscope) which contains 45 volumes about three teenagers and the stories around their friendship and school life, has recently been transformed into four drama series of the same name.

The series became a major success and received extravagant acclaim from both readers and critics. In 1995, he was voted the most popular writer for the last 20 years (1975-1995) and the most talented individual through a poll held by Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper.

In 1990, he received A-class Literature for Youth Prize for Chu Be Rac Roi (The troubled boy).

The Southeast Asian Writers Awards was established in 1979. About 13 Vietnamese authors have been awarded since 1996. — VNS

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Australian director ‘keeps eye’ on Vietnam cinema

Local fans welcome Australian director Phillip Noyce when arrives at Noi Bai airport in Hanoi on October 16, 2010

Photo: Tuoi Tre

Phillip Noyce, director of “The Quiet American” is in Vietnam for a second time, eight years after he was first here to direct the film, to head the jury at the inaugural Vietnam International Film Festival from October 17 to 21.

He spoke to Tuoi Tre as soon as he landed at Noi Bai airport in Hanoi.

As the head of the feature film jury, what is your main goal?

I would like to honor true values and new cinema talents, and have a chance to watch films at the VNIFF.

What do you think about the first VNIFF’s aim of showcasing Southeast Asian cinema which is not well known globally?

It is very interesting to see films and have a deeper knowledge of movie industries in Southeast Asian countries. I do want to learn about the region’s culture, which is expressed by the region’s filmmakers, through the film festival.

Movie industry of different nations have different visions of the world. We may ask that how the films are made, what the filmmakers’ interest is. I think there will be films which reveal their own culture and country’s historical stories though sometimes it not easy to understand their messages. However, the film’s values come from the inside – how do you feel after watching it?

What is your expectation for Vietnamese films?

I am waiting to see Vietnamese films made in 2010, films competing in international film festivals, and current impressive films on Vietnamese cinemas.

Seeing these films will help me realize the changes and development in Vietnamese movie industry. I always keep a close eye on your cinema for the last eight years. I would like to help develop your cinema but I have few chances to see it. The only Vietnamese film I’ve seen is “Pao’s story.” The other film being promoted in Australia that I saw was “Inferno” directed by Vietnamese-born Victor Vu. I live and work in Australia and the US, where I have only a few opportunities to see Vietnamese films. That is the reason I am present at the festival. Besides seeing and judging films at the festival, I’ll give two lectures at the Vietnam Cinema Association on October 22 and 23 before coming to Ho Chi Minh City. I hope I can connect Vietnamese filmmakers with foreign ones.

There was a big gap between the movie and the audiences when I directed “The Quiet American.” However, there are now more and more young directors, and even audiences, who buy tickets.

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