Eighteen Lao teenagers win prizes for filmmaking

(KPL) Forty three Lao teenagers, aged between 14 and 18, produced 43 three-minute films from July to September 2009 and their artistic work were screened in the premises of the Department of Cinematography of the Ministry of Information and Culture, Vientiane on 14 October. This screening was also to commemorate the Japan-Laos Children’s Film Festival.
The event was attended by Bounchao Phichit, Director General of the Cinematpgraphy Department, and Mr. Masaaki Miyashita, Japanese Ambassador to Laos.
The festival was organised by the Embassy of Japan, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Information and Culture and the Ministry of Education. This festival was part of the Mekong-Japan Exchange Year 2009.
The teenage cinematographers, free to choose themes for the films, selected a range of issues, such as environmental protection, local handicraft, life in schools and others, and on the art of film making. They received guidance from the staff of the Department of Cinematography.
As the judges were present during this screening to assess the quality of the films, they awarded prizes to 18 films. The winners would be invited to Japan to participate in the Asian Children’s Film and Video Festival to be held in IBUSUKI district of Japan from 3 to 13 December.
Their films would be shown there along those made by children in other Asian nations, including Japan.