Intellasia News Services -- Banned Vietnamese short to screen at Venice festival

Banned Vietnamese short to screen at Venice festival
Source: 04-SEP-2008 Intellasia | CBC News
Sep 4, 2008 - 7:00:00 AM
A Vietnamese short film banned in its home country will screen in competition at the Venice International Film Festival, organisers announced on Monday.

Phan Dang Di's 20-minute film Khi Toi 20 (When I Am 20) is slated to screen on Wednesday as part of La Mostra's short film programme.

Programmers and festival officials "decided not to exclude the film from competition because we should guarantee and defend freedom of expression," according to a statement.

The director, 32, will not attend the screening, which will be shown during a DVD copy rather than a film print.

Khi Toi 20, which was filmed more than two-years ago, explores the relationship of a teenage couple in which the girl works as a commercial sex worker to help support her family.

Film censors in Vietnam objected to the film, calling it a negative portrayal of the country and damaging to its reputation. It was only allowed to be screened by film industry professionals and film students at a cinema centre in Hanoi.

The winner of the short film competition will be announced Saturday, the final day of the festival.