Vietnamese children's films are conspicuously absent from theaters this summer.

Just as the first week of the summer holidays began, the atmosphere at movie theaters across the city was already quite lively. However, Vietnamese children's films remained conspicuously absent.

Movie theaters typically attract children during the summer months.

Foreign films are popular.

During the first week of the summer holidays, many movie screenings at theaters prioritize films aimed at children.

Among them, the Japanese film "Doraemon: Nobita and the Castle Under the Sea" is particularly noteworthy. After each screening at CGV Aeon Mall - Hai Phong Le Chan cinema, many children still excitedly discuss the characters and the underwater adventures.

Luu Ngoc Bao Han, a student at Nguyen Trai Primary School (Gia Vien Ward), said she particularly enjoys the underwater exploration scenes and the characters in the film. According to Bao Han, every summer she goes to see Doraemon with her family because the content is fun, easy to watch, and suitable for children.

A similar lively atmosphere was also seen at many other cinema complexes such as Galaxy, Lotte Cinema Hai Duong, and Venus Cinema, especially in the late afternoon and evening hours and on weekends when the number of family viewers increased sharply.

A survey of screening schedules at several cinemas in Hai Phong shows that the majority of screenings for children are currently for imported films such as "Journey to the West: Uproar" (Thailand), "Hatray's Lightning" (Japan), or "Star Wars: The Mandalorian & Grogu" (USA). These films are shown continuously at many prime times from morning to evening. Many international children's films are well-funded, have a stable audience, and have extensive marketing campaigns before their release.

Meanwhile, there are virtually no new Vietnamese feature films or animated films specifically for children being released in theaters this summer. The disparity is evident in both the frequency of releases and the level of promotion.

According to many parents, the fact that Vietnamese children's films are less frequently shown in theaters does not mean that audiences are turning their backs on domestic films. Ms. Nguyen Minh Trang (An Bien ward) said that her family still prioritizes choosing films suitable for young children during the summer. According to Ms. Trang, the parents' top concern is that the film's content is educational and engaging for children. If a Vietnamese film meets these criteria, many families are willing to support it instead of only choosing foreign films.

"If Vietnamese films are engaging and relatable to children, they will certainly still have an audience. Many families also want their children to watch more stories and see characters with a Vietnamese flavor," Trang said.

There is a lack of Vietnamese films for young audiences.

In fact, Vietnamese animation has left its mark with many familiar works such as "The Kitten," "The Toad and the Frog," "The Fox Gets What He Deserves," "Tit and Mit," "The Story of Giong," and "The Green Frog's Dream." Among them, People's Artist Ngo Manh Lan won the Silver Pelican Award at the Mamaia International Animation Film Festival (Romania) in 1966 with "The Kitten" and the Golden Dove Award at the Leipzig International Film Festival (German Democratic Republic) in 1971 with "The Story of Giong." "The Green Frog's Dream" and "The Legend of the Stilt House" are also among the works that earned People's Artist Ha Bac the State Award for Literature and Arts.

The Vietnam-Sweden Children's Film Week will take place from June 1st to June 5th in Hanoi.

Notably, many Vietnamese animated works continue to be introduced to young audiences through community screening programs. This year, on International Children's Day (June 1st), the Vietnam-Sweden Children's Film Week continues to screen films such as "The Story of Giong," "The Kitten," "The Fox Gets What He Deserves," and "The Great Emperor's Journey."

Despite having produced many memorable works, Vietnamese animation remains largely absent from commercial theaters. According to artist, director, and People's Artist Ha Bac, one of the major challenges facing Vietnamese animation is limited investment. He believes that this field has long relied primarily on state funding, thus failing to achieve significant commercial success, while animation is a genre requiring substantial production costs and lengthy execution times.

People's Artist Ha Bac also commented that if more private investors participate and are willing to invest seriously, Vietnamese animation will have more opportunities to develop. According to him, animation is expensive, but if done properly, its exploitable value can last for many years.

Artist, director, and People's Artist Ha Bac (wearing a hat) interacts with students in Hai Phong.

Currently, in commercial cinemas, children mainly have access to imported children's films, while many Vietnamese children's films with artistic value are primarily shown in free film weeks or community screenings. This shows a clear gap between Vietnamese children's films and the commercial box office market.

With the increasing demand for entertainment among young audiences during the summer, what the market lacks is not only a sufficient number of Vietnamese children's films, but also new works that are competitive enough to establish a stable foothold in theaters.

HA LINH

Source: https://baohaiphong.vn/vang-bong-phim-thieu-nhi-viet-tai-rap-dip-he-544544.html