Vietnamese filmmakers have been urged to produce quality movies “full of human value” and Vietnamese cultural identity to develop the country’s film industry.

Ngo Phuong Lan, Head of Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism’s Cinematography Department, made the call at a ceremony held in the Hanoi Opera House on March 14 to mark the 60 th anniversary of Vietnam’s movie industry.

The industry was established on March 15, 1953. However, Vietnamese films have been made since 1947, two years after the August Revolution.

Nowadays Vietnamese filmmakers are winning national and international awards. But some experts say the most successful were produced during wartime or the early renewal process (1986).

Filmmakers experienced very difficult circumstances during the wartime (some were killed).

Among the films made were Chung Mot Dong Song (Sharing the Sam River), Vi Tuyen 17 Ngay va Dem (17 th Parallel Day and Night), Chi Tu Hau (Mrs Tu Hau), Con Chim Vanh Khuyen (Passerine Bird), and Bao Gio Cho Den Thang Muoi (When the 10th month comes).

Lan said the industry should not only hark back to its glorious past but should work harder to produce good films that bring pride to the nation.

Fmk should develop a diversified cinema industry. Besides revolutionary, historic and cultural films, they should produce artistic and entertaining ones, Lan said.

Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Hoang Tuan Anh said Vietnam should also learn from advanced countries to help the film industry develop and integrate with its counterparts elsewhere.

Meanwhile, activities were held to mark the anniversary. A film week at the National Cinema Centre screened outstanding Vietnamese feature, documentary and cartoon films.

The National Cinema Department and departments of Culture, Sports and Tourism in Long An and Thai Nguyen provinces organised for artists to visit the Bung Bien Cinema Relic Site in the southern province of Long An and Doi Co Cinema Relic Site in the northern province of Thai Nguyen, which are considered the root of the country’s movie industry.-VNA