Hanoi (VNS/VNA) - A film project called ‘Handsome Guy For Rent’ wonthe category of commercial film at Autumn Meeting 2018, an international cinemaevent providing the opportunity for young filmmakers in the region.

The sixth annual Autumn Meeting took place in Hoi An and Da Nang,attracting more than 100 participants from the host nation as well as theRepublic of Korea, Hong Kong and Taiwan (China), Japan, Cambodia and Myanmar.

The event enables cinematic exchange between the countries’ film industries andoffers courses in basic acting, advanced acting, producing, directing, costumesand designing.

Lecturers included director Tran Anh Hung, actress Tran Nu Yen Khe, Koreanactress Lydia Park, People’s Artist Le Khanh, director Leon Quang Le, producerBao Nguyen and producer John Badalu.

Hung is the only member that has worked with Autumn Meeting since itsfirst edition. He was an Oscar nominee and Cannes Camera d’Or winner in 1993for Scent of Green Papaya. More recently, he directed the 2010adaptation of Haruki Murakami’s hit novel Norwegian Wood and Eternity (2016)starring Audrey Tautou, Berenice Bejo and Melanie Laurent.

Autumn Meeting holds pitch sessions where young filmmakers can presenttheir projects and ask for investment.

In the category of art film, 'Fruit Gathering' by director Aung Phyoeof Myanmar won the top prize. The film reflects the loneliness of a person andthe society of Myanmar. CGV (Cultural, Great and Vital) Group will invest tobring the project to life.

The film ‘Handsome Guy for Rent’ by Do Nhu Thu won the category ofcommercial film. The film is about the 19-year-old Linh, who suffers fromleukemia. Her father hires a boyfriend for her from an online dating service,and before long real love develops between the young couple. Directors CharlieNguyen, Le Thanh Son and Phan Gia Nhat Linh, members of the jury, said theyagreed to select Thu’s project because of its emotional story telling.

Over the past five years, Autumn Meeting has given chances to manyyoung directors. Many of the films it has featured have gone on tointernational film festivals. ‘The Third Wife’ by Nguyen Phuong Anhwas selected for the Hong Kong-Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF) at the 2016 HongKong International Film Festival and received a cash prize of 20,000 USD. 

‘CuliNever Cries’ by Phan Ngac Lan received the Hubert Bals Fund for ScriptDevelopment at International Film Festival Rotterdam. ‘Culi Never Cries’ and ‘Taste’ byLe Bao were chosen for the L’Atelier Cinefondation at the 2017 Cannes FilmFestival. Finally, ‘The Lottery Boy’ by Tran Dung Thanh Huy and ‘ChaCha Cha’ by Do Quoc Trung were selected for the Asian Project Market (APM)at the Busan International Film Festival 2015.-VNS/VNA