Quang Ninh province’s Ha Long City will host the 18th Vietnam Film Festival over October 12–15. Cinematography Department Chief and Festival Organising Board Chair Ngo Phuong Lan announced the event’s “Vietnam’s Cinematography: Nation, Humanity, Creativity, Integration” theme at a press briefing in Hanoi on August 27. Lan said the exhibited films will celebrate national identity and the creativity of Vietnamese filmmakers in the context of increasing international integration. The four-day event will screen narrative films, digital videos, documentaries, scientific films, and animations. Lan said that as of August 21, the organizing board has already received 48 submissions from 12 cinematography facilities seeking to attend the festival. The submissions include 11 narrative films, one video, 27 documentaries, 7 scientific films and 2 animations. The 18th festival will have three seven member juries judging the various categories. The Gold Lotus, Silver Lotus and two special organising board prizes will be awarded in each category. Individual prizes span Best Director, Best Screenwriter, Best Filmmaker, Best Actress, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Art Designer, Best Music Designer, and Best Sound Designer. Festival audiences will also vote for their favourite films. The festival is expected to attract about 1,000 entrants and invitees. Famous French and Korean filmmakers will join an associated seminar on transnational film production and distribution cooperation. Hanoi, Danang, and Ho Chi Minh City have planned concurrent film weeks celebrating the 18th Vietnam Film Festival beginning on September 20. VOV