Movie Moves

Feb 09, 2012 (LBO) - Sri Lanka could attract Vietnam's growing film industry to shoot on location, as the two countries shared many similarities, Hanoi's envoy to the island Ton Sinh Thanh said.







"Vietnam's film industry is growing and Sri Lanka has many beautiful locations," ambassador Thanh told reporters in Colombo.

"At one time films were made by the government, but after the Doi Moi reforms many private companies are making films."

Vietnam started its Doi Moi or 'renewal' market reform program in 1986 and has since strengthened property rights of the people helping make the country an economic powerhouse.

Films made by production companies owned by Vietnamese people are now winning international awards.

Expatriate Vietnamese have also returned to the country to direct and produce films.

Sri Lanka's state-run National Film Corporation will screen a series of films starting from February 15, chairman Ashoka Seresinghe said.

The festival will kick off with 'Don't Burn', a story about the diary of a Vietnamese lady doctor who died during its war with America.

Her diary was saved from being burnt by a US soldier who was told about its contents by a