The National Assembly delegation of Nghe An province collected comments on the draft Law on Cinema (amended)

On the morning of April 13, the Provincial National Assembly Delegation held a conference to collect comments on the draft Law on Cinema (amended). Comrade Thai Thi An Chung - Member of the Provincial Party Executive Committee, Deputy Head of the Provincial National Assembly Delegation chaired the conference. Photo: Thanh Le

At the 2nd session of the 15th National Assembly (October 2021), the National Assembly discussed and gave opinions on the draft Law on Cinema (amended).

After the session, the National Assembly Standing Committee directed the Standing Committee of the Culture and Education Committee to preside over and coordinate with the drafting agency and relevant agencies to study and absorb the opinions of National Assembly deputies to revise the draft Law; organize conferences, work with experts, scientists, managers, and affected subjects, and send the draft Law to a number of ministries, branches, and relevant agencies for comments to have more information and practical basis to complete the draft Law.

Discussing at the meeting, delegates said that the 2006 Cinema Law has many provisions that are no longer suitable for practice and are incompatible with the relevant legal system and need to be amended to be more suitable.

Comrade Ho Mau Thanh - Chairman of the Provincial Literature and Arts Association suggested that the draft should boldly allow privatization and modernization of the film industry. Photo: Thanh Le

Delegates suggested that the draft Law should have a breakthrough policy to develop and industrialize cinema; and stipulate a general policy on developing Vietnamese cinema in the direction of industrialization.

It is necessary to develop cinema as both an art and an economic sector, especially gradually striving to build Vietnamese cinema into a spearhead cultural industry.

Dr. Dinh Van Liem - Vinh University gave his comments at the conference. Photo: Thanh Le

Regarding Article 8 on foreign investment cooperation in cinema activities, the draft revised Cinema Law needs to study general, strategic, and cooperative-oriented provisions, and clearly stipulate prohibitions on cinema activities.

Delegates suggested that there should be a policy to promote socialization, mobilize resources to participate in cinema development, and reduce the burden on the State budget.

Some delegates said that the State should not invest in the budget for producing feature films, but could invest a part or only invest in newsreels.

The best solution is for the State to spend money to buy completed feature films that meet its purposes and requirements. At the same time, it is necessary to continue researching, decentralizing, and delegating the responsibility of state management of cinema.

Delegates attending the conference. Photo: Thanh Le

Delegates discussed the following contents: Foreign investment cooperation in cinema activities; Providing film production services to foreign organizations and individuals; Film production using state budget; Prohibited content and acts in cinema activities; Film classification.

On developing human resources for cinema; on innovating the management, appraisal and licensing of film classification; advertising products, goods and services in films; promoting and promoting the development of cinema.

Comrade Thai Thi An Chung concluded the conference. Photo: Thanh Le

Comments focused on issues that are still of concern such as film dissemination, distribution, film censorship, film deposit, licensing, film classification, establishment of a Film Support Fund, etc. The draft Law needs to be researched in accordance with the Investment Law, Tax Law, Enterprise Law, etc.

Concluding the conference, Comrade Thai Thi An Chung - Deputy Head of the Provincial National Assembly Delegation acknowledged and highly appreciated the opinions of the delegates. The opinions of the delegates will be compiled by the Provincial National Assembly Delegation and sent to the National Assembly for consideration and approval at the upcoming session.