Vietnamese Cinema Symposium

Vietnamese Cinema Symposium 6 – “Shifting Scenes”

Sunday, April 22, 2012
2:30 PM - 6:30 PM
121 Dodd Hall
UCLA Campus

Vietnamese Language & Culture (VNLC) and the Vietnamese American Arts & Letters Association (VAALA) present the sixth biennial Cinema Symposium: Shifting Scenes. The symposium will feature ten notable panelists who lend diverse perspectives to the creative, technical, and commercial aspects of film-making. The possibilities for filmmakers to tell stories and for audiences to engage with cinema have greatly expanded due to ongoing ‘shifts’, such as the increasing fluidity of geographical and cultural boundaries, internet-based distribution and networking channels, and the accessibility of digital film-making technology. The event will provide a forum for audiences to engage with film-industry professionals in examining the unique opportunities and challenges that present themselves in this dynamic landscape.

The diverse and accomplished speaker panel includes: Elizabeth Ai (Producer, Saigon Electric), Michael Chang (Attorney, Warner Bros. Entertainment), Chris Dinh (Actor/Writer, Crush the Skull, Things You Don't Joke About) Ellen M. Harrington (Exhibitions Director, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences), Mye Hoang (Writer/Director, Viette), Le Van Kiet (Director/Writer, Dust of Life, House in the Alley), Porter Lynn (Actress, Touch), Duc Nguyen (Director/Producer, Bolinao52, Stateless), and Marcus Manh Cuong Vu (Editor/Director, Yxine Film Festival). In addition, the audience will have a special Skype session with director Victor Vu (Battle of the Brides, Blood Letter), who is currently on location in Vietnam.

2:30 – 3:00 p.m. Reception & Introductory remarks (Ysa Le & Linda Ta)
3:00 – 5:30 p.m. Panel discussion and showcase of film clips (Moderators: Thuy Vo Dang & Justin Tran)
5:30 – 5:45 p.m. Break
5:45 – 6:30 p.m. Special screenings of short films followed by Q&A

Films

• Cá chuoi / Mother never cries (2011) Director: Do Quoc Trung 15:34 min.
The story is about a middle-aged woman who finds a girl to sleep with her mentally challenged son.

• Duoi bóng cây / Under the Tree’s Shadow (2011) Director: Doàn Tran Anh Tuan 07:00 min.
Due to a boasting from Mouse, Snake takes Frog away. Mouse goes to save Frog, actually with another purpose.

• Un Interrogatoire / An Interrogation (2011) Director: Nghiêm Quynh Trang 15:56 min.
After her wedding with a Frenchman, a Vietnamese student is interviewed for her residence permit.

• The Man Who Was There (2009) Director: Andy Nguyen 11:58 min.
It’s Christmas Eve in New York, a man who lives alone leaves his flat for the first time in 8 years because of a silly reason and, fortunately, a girl helps him.

Web announcements here and here.
Free and open to the public.