The 17th National Film Festival kicks off tonight in the central province of Phu Yen, promising a tough competition with many productions from non-state studios participating.

Ladies man: A scene from the film Nhung Nu Hon Ruc Ro (Bright Kisses) produced by the BHD studio. — File Photo

The three-day festival, running through Saturday, has lured about 108 entries in the categories of feature, documentary, scientific and animated films, and will recognise and honour the best works of the past three years.

Among the most anticipated features are the films Mui Co Chay (The Scent of Burnt Grass) and Tam Hon Me (Mother’s Heart), both produced by State-run studios and not yet commercially screened.

The film Long Thanh Cam Gia Ca (The Song about a Musician in Thang Long Citadel) is a strong contender for the Golden Lotus, with Nhat Kim Anh’s performance in the film having already won the best actress award at the First Vietnam International Film Festival.

Among other films in competition are two films about President Ho Chi Minh, Nhin Ra Bien Ca (Looking to the Sea) and Vuot Qua Ben Thuong Hai (Crossing Shanghai Port). Crossing Shanghai Port was produced by the Vietnam Writers Association’s film studio in co-operation with a Chinese partner, portraying the life of President Ho when he was known as Nguyen Ai Quoc in Hong Kong and Shanghai in 1933-34.

The Hoda studio’s Looking to the Sea, meanwhile, is about the late president when he worked as a kitchen hand on a French steamer travelling to Marseilles before World War I.

The private studio BHD leads the competition in the number of nominees, with four films in contention. Its film Canh Dong Bat Tan (Floating Lives) has already won local and international awards, including best foreign actress for Ninh Duong Lan Ngoc at the 20th China Golden Rooster Film Festival.

The nominees will be judged by three jury boards, each with seven members who are not too old but prominent in their circle.

“This festival will be a professional cinema event,” said Ngo Phuong Lan, deputy head of the culture ministry’s Cinematography Department.

The competition for documentary and scientific films is also expected to be fierce, with the Central Scientific and Documentary Film Studio always a powerful competitor. Eight of the studio’s nominees were recognised at national competitions in 2010.

“The films are very diverse, bringing a comprehensive view of daily life,” said the studio’s director, Pham Thi Tuyet.

Over the past two years, its productions have included Ong Muoi Khoi (Mr Muoi Khoi); Chuyen Ong Hoi Dong (The Councillor’s Story) and Nu Bo Truong Ngoai Giao Dau Tien Cua Vietnam (Vietnam’s First Female Minister for Foreign Affairs).

The Military Film Studio brings three films to the festival. Hoang Sa Trong Long To Quoc (Paracel Islands in the Heart of the Nation) was made recording a troop banquet on Ly Son Island.

“We couldn’t go to the Paracel Islands,” said the film’s director, Le Quy. “However, we found many family annals on Ly Son Island to record events during the Nguyen Dynasty.”

The Golden Lotus award will be given to the best sound for all categories after a two-year interruption. The Vietnam Cinematography Association will also honour the best young director under the age of 30 for the first time. This year marks the 40th anniversary of the first festival held in Hanoi in 1970. The festival’s opening and closing ceremony will be broadcast live on VTV1 and VTV2, tonight and Saturday.