Japanese cartoon festival to be held in Ha Noi

HA NOI — An array of eight famous Japanese animated films will be screened at the National Cinema Centre on January 12-16.

The event is being jointly held by the Japanese Culture Department, the Japanese Cultural Exchange Centre in Viet Nam, the Cinematographic Department and the National Cinema Centre.

The festival will especially feature Spirit away directed by Miyazaki Hayao in 2001, which won the Golden Bear award in 2002 and was among the Oscar competitors for best animated feature film at the 75th annual Academy Awards ceremony.

Spirit away tells about the adventures of a 10-year-old girl, Chihiro, who is accidentally thrown into a "spirit" world. While working at a bathhouse catering to spirits and gods, she tries to rescue her parents from a spell that transformed them into pigs.

Prior to the event, popular voice actress Mitsuki Saiga, guitarist Kazuya Nishikawa and several film makers will engage in an exchange with Vietnamese audience.

Cartoon pilgrims may get free tickets at the Japanese Cultural Exchange Centre at 27 Quang Trung Street, Hoan Kiem District, Ha Noi, as from 2pm on January 5.

Opera House to count down to New Year's Eve

HA NOI — A special New Year's Eve countdown party will be held outside the Ha Noi Opera House at 9pm on Friday to usher in the new year with entertainment and countdown clocks facing in four directions.

The programme, sponsored by Heineken, will feature performances by singers My Linh and Nguyen Duc Cuong and music by DJs Jonathan Glaser from Sweden, Tempo from the US and Tuan Kruise of Viet Nam.

TV festival celebrates individual contributions

CAÁN THO — Individual contributions were recognised for the first time at the 30th annual television festival that ended on Sunday in the southern city of Can Tho.

The Best Director award went to Bui Quoc Viet for Dam Laây Bac (Marsh), produced by VTV's Television Film Production Centre.

Best Actor was awarded to Huynh Cong for his role as Huynh Van Nghe in Vo Ngua Troi Nam (The South's Heroes), produced by HTV's Television Film Company.

Actress Ho Thanh Ngoc won Best Actress for her role as Lua in Me Chong Nang Dau (Mother and Daughter-in-Law) by Vinh Long Television.

Best Cameraman went to Nguyen Thanh Phuc for his work on Vo Ngua Troi Nam.

There were more than 750 entries at the festival, including documentaries, reports, TV series, theatre and musicals.

Seminars were also held at the festival on digital television and children's programming. — VNS

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Musician Thanh Son wins top literary, arts prize

HA NOI — Musician Thanh Son of Dien Bien Province won a top prize at the national literature and arts awards held in Ha Noi on Saturday.

Son received the prestigious "A" award for his song Nhung Banh Xe Mat Troi (The Sun's Wheels), which uses the image of a waterwheel turning day and night to portray hardworking ethnic groups from the mountains.

On the night 12 "B" prizes, 28 "C" prizes and 29 consolation prizes were given out. Eleven young authors received awards, as did 17 elderly authors.

Deputy chairman of the National Union for Vietnamese Literature and Arts Associations, Tung Dien said he was happy to see a trend this year towards winners who successfully used tradition to create their work. The fact that younger authors were doing so was particularly pleasing, he added.

Vietnamese cultural centre opens in Moscow

MOSCOW — A Vietnamese entertainment and culinary centre - Kowloon International - opened in Moscow on Saturday.

The Vietnamese Ambassador to Russia Bui Danh Dinh and representatives of Vietnamese companies in Russia were present at the opening night which included a fashion show and performances by famous Vietnamese singers including Thanh Lam and Tan Minh.

Pham Thi Yen, chairman of the centre's Management Council said the centre wanted to help Russia's Vietnamese community to celebrate Christmas and the New Year.

"We hope the centre will become a favourite among Russians, Vietnamese and other foreigners in Moscow," said Yen.

Concert raises $30,000 for disadvantaged kids

HCM CITY — Organisers of the fourth LoretoFest aid the outdoor music festival raised more than US$30,000 through sponsorship and attendance fees to assist disadvantaged, poor and physically and mentally challenged children through education and vocational training.

Those who attended the festival had a fun day of good music, food, beverages and other activities. Kids, in particular, were able to enjoy mini golf, face painting, X-Rock climbing, circus performances, football, netball and horse riding.

LoretoFest is the Loreto Vietnam-Australia Program's largest annual fund-raising event. — VNS

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Hue centre fails in bid to buy royal painting

Artist in exile: Chieu Ta (Sunset), an oil on canvas by former King Ham Nghi (1802–1945), went to an unnamed bidder at auction in Paris. — VNS Photo/Courtesy Hue Monuments Conservation Centre.

THUA THIEN – HUE — The Hue Monuments Conservation Centre outbid at an auction in Paris on an artwork painted by former King Ham Nghi of Viet Nam.

A diplomat at the Vietnamese Embassy in France who represented the centre at the auction at Millon&Associes submitted a bid of 8,000 euros (US$11,784) for the Chieu Ta or Decline dur Jour (Sunset), an oil on canvas by King Ham Nghi.

But the highest bid was 8,800 euros ($12,962), said Nguyen Van Phuc, head of the Centre's External Relations Division.

The reserve price was between $1,100 and $1,700.

Phuc said the centre decided to join the auction because it had recognised the historical value of the painting, an art work related to the Nguyen dynasty (1802 – 1945).

A number of Viet kieu (overseas Vietnamese) in France, who wanted to donate the painting to the centre, were unhappy that they could not purchase the painting.

King Ham Nghi, the eighth ruler of the Nguyen dynasty, ascended to the throne in 1884 and ruled for one year, during which he led the Can Vuong resistance movement against the French.

In 1888 he was arrested and exiled in Algeria, where he died in 1943. He was buried in 1965 in Aquitaine, France.

He painted Chieu Ta in 1915 while in exile. It is thought to be influenced by the works of Paul Gauguin, a leading French post-impressionist artist who lived in the 19th century.

Phuc said through the Vietnamese Embassy in France and the Association of Overseas Vietnamese in the country that the centre would contact King Ham Nghi's daughter, Princess Nhu Ly, the owner of many paintings by her father, to ask for transfer of ownership of these art works, to the city of Hue. — VNS

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