A Francophone Film Festival kicked off on March 12 in Hanoi as part of a national celebration of International Francophone Day in Vietnam.

The event is jointly organised by France, Canada, Romania, Switzerland, the Wallonia-Brussels region in Belgium and the International Francophone Organisation including a series of the French-language film screenings, cinema training course, concert, quiz and a Francophone day in the Mekong Delta.

An official ceremony will take place on March 19 to celebrate the 40th International Francophone Day at the Temple of Literature in Hanoi. It will be chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Gia Khiem with representatives from relevant agencies.

The ceremony will be followed by a talk by musicologist Tran Van Khe and performances of ca tru (ceremonial singing) and quan ho (love duets) which were recognised as world intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO.

The film festival will be a highlight of the event; it will feature 13 movies from seven countries and the International Francophone Organisation.

The Cannes 2008 French-produced winner The Class, is scheduled to open the festival on March 12 at L'Espace, 24 Trang Tien Street, Hanoi.

The movie is a dramatisation of a book recording the experiences of a teacher in an inner-city Parisian school. It also won the best adapted script award at the Cesar 2009 film awards.

Others films to be screened include Seducing Doctor Lewis; Stuff and Dough; My Name Is Eugene; Don't Burn; Pom Pony and Colour of Coffee.

The festival will open at the French cultural centres in Ho Chi Minh City on March 13 and Hue on March 15. All the screenings will have Vietnamese subtitles and free entry. (VNA)