(VNF) - The 2017 ASEAN Film Festival was launched at the United Nations Office in Geneva, Switzerland, on March 27^th in commemoration of the 50^th anniversary of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

The Member States of ASEAN jointly organizes this event in order to enrich its cultural programme and to broaden and deepen its cooperation with the U.N.

At the opening day of the 2017 ASEAN Film Festival. (Photo: The Permanent Mission of the Kingdom of Cambodia to the U.N. at Geneva)

The opening ceremony was attended by Director-General of the U.N. Office at Geneva Michael Moller and ambassadors and diplomats from ASEAN member states.

In his opening remarks, Permanent Representative of the Philippines to the United Nations Evan P. Garcia spoke highly of the dynamic film industry in South East Asia and its footprints in the worldwide market.

The ASEAN film industry now has many opportunities with a number of outstanding productions that have won attention at international film festivals, such as Cannes (France) and Busan (the Republic of Korea), Mr. Garcia said.

He added ASEAN nations have also been an alluring destination to foreign filmmakers who are impressed by the region’s magnificent landscapes, prosperity and creativeness.

The 2017 ASEAN Film Festival features films originated from ASEAN member states to share the persity and way of life of the ASEAN community, cultivate a better understanding on their values and cultures and encourage and celebrate their film productions.

Vietnam joined the event with “Yellow Flowers in Green Grass” (2015) among Best of Times (Thailand), Only Love (Laos), Adam Eve Datsa (Myanmar), My Magic (Singapore), Redha (Malaysia), We are Moluccans (Indonesia), Yasmine (Brunei).

“Yellow Flowers in Green Grass” of Vietnamese-American director Victor Vu will be screened at the United Nations Office in Geneva, Switzerland, on March 31^st.

Based on the novel by best-selling author Nguyen Nhat Anh, “Yellow Flowers in Green Grass” is set in the mid-1980s in a small village, telling the story of two young brothers who share everything, but compete for the affection of the same girl. The film features the beauty of Vietnamese landscape, people and culture.

In 2015, the film won the best film award at the Silk Road International Film Festival in China and the Golden Lotus Award for best feature film at the 19^th Vietnam Film Festival.

The event will run through April 7^th./.

Compiled by VNF