Vientianale Film Festival Returns to Laos

It may be true that Laos does not have an abundance of cinema halls and movie theaters, but that doesn't mean the country is out of the loop. Just a few months following the first film festival in Luang Prabang, the Vientianale International Film Festival returns to the capital of Vientiane for a repeat performance. The first Vientianale was held in 2009, and was surprisingly successful considering the challenges they faced as the country's first film festival. According to their website:

The 2nd Vientianale will build on the overwhelming success of the inaugural event that was held in May 2009. This free event not only aims to entertain but also educate audiences about the potential richness and diversity of Lao film culture by presenting feature films, documentaries, films for children, music videos and short films. A supporting programme will include workshops on filmmaking and, of course, the big festival party.

We at the Open Air Cinema Foundation are particularly interested in the "Rising Star" competition that will be added to this year's festival. The Rising Star Award will be presented to the best short film made on a mobile phone. We'll definitely be there to follow along!