The Santa Barbara International Film Festival has landed a big one on the awards circuit: director Martin Scorsese, who will receive the festival's American Riviera Award on Monday, January 30. Scorsese's 3D film "Hugo" was named the year's best film by the National Board of Review, and it and the director have figured heavily in the critics' awards handed out so far. "Honoring Scorsese has been a dream of SBIFF's for many years," said SBIFF Executive Director Roger Durling in a press release announcing the award. "We're thrilled that it's happening during a year when this contemporary master of cinema is breaking new ground with 'Hugo.'" Previous winners of the American Riviera Award, which SBIFF says "was established to honor an artist who has had a strong influence on American cinema," include Annette Bening, Sandra Bullock, Mickey Rourke and Forest Whitaker. Typically, the award has gone to an actor in the thick of the year's awards race. Scorsese has eight Oscar nominations … [Read more...] about Martin Scorsese receives Santa Barbara festival honor
Festival
Hanoi to organize flower street festival
The capital city will hold a flower festival on the road around the Hoan Kiem Lake during the New Year. The event will take place from December 30, 2011 to January 1, 2012 on Dinh Tien Hoang, Le Thai To and Le Thach roads, King Ly Thai To flower garden and Dong Kinh Nghia Thuc square. The flower street festival will showcase typical scenes of the northern delta with flower baskets, bamboo items, bamboo musical instruments, ao dai, quan ho love duets, the miniatures of Hue royal citadel, Hoi An ancient town, the Central Highlands gong space, Ha Long Bay, etc. The festival will also include an exhibition zone where display rare trees, flower-made paintings, etc. During the festival, various activities will be held, such as a flower arrangement contest, dragon dance shows, releasing lanterns, ao dai festival, folk games, a firework show, and others. On the occasion of the New Year 2012, Hanoi will organize the Tourism Day to introduce Hanoi's tourist attractions, craft villages, … [Read more...] about Hanoi to organize flower street festival
European music festival returns to Vietnam
The annual European Music Festival will return to Vietnam next week with first-time participants from Slovakia. This year, the annual music festival will continue to celebrate the richness of European culture as well as culture exchanges between Europe and Vietnam. The event "is in itself an excellent example of important public diplomacy exchanges in the EU-Vietnam relation," said Mr. Franz Jessen, ambassador - head of the Delegation of the European Union in Vietnam. Highlights of the festival include performances by the UK's Zun Zun Egui Rock band, sophisticated and passionate jazz concerts of musicians from the Netherlands, Wallonia - Brussels (Belgium) and France, the German 'Ma'a lot' Quintet with chamber music, plus a pop performance by Slovakian singer Milena Minichova. Opening programs will start on November 17 in Ho Chi Minh City, and the next day at Tuoi Tre Theater in Hanoi, with more performances going on until November 28. Free tickets are available at … [Read more...] about European music festival returns to Vietnam
European music festival to be held in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City
The European Music Festival 2011 will be held at the Youth Theater in Hanoi and the Ho Chi Minh City Music Conservatory from November 17 - 28. This was announced by the European Union (EU) delegation in Vietnam and EU member embassies at a press conference yesterday in Hanoi. The festival will feature classical, jazz, pop and world music performances by twenty top musicians from Germany, the Netherlands, France, Wallonia-Brussels (Belgium), the UK and Slovakia. The German world-class "Ma' a lot' Quintet" chamber music ensemble will open the festival with a special performance. Jazz artist Harmen Fraanje (Netherlands), pop singer Milena Minichova (Slovakia) and well known bands such as Swing Quartet (France) and Zun Zun Egui (UK) will also play at the festival. On of the highlights of the festival will be the world music combination of Vietnamese and European music featuring two Vietnamese folk instruments, T'rung and Tam thap luc (a zither with thirty-six strings). The … [Read more...] about European music festival to be held in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City
Rice festival begins on Tuesday to honor agriculture
CANTHO - The second Vietnam Rice Festival themed "Honoring Vietnamese rice - Green environment for yellow fields" will begin on Tuesday in the Mekong Delta's Soc Trang Province to highlight the country's agricultural achievements. The festival, with the participation of some 1,000 local and foreign delegates, will provide an insight into the country's wet rice civilization, farming tools and utensils in agricultural production. The event is aimed to promote farm produce of Soc Trang and the country, honor Vietnamese farmers, and project the image of Vietnamese rice to the world market. Many activities took place this morning, such as a farmer competition and the "Vietnamese rice way" exhibition. The official opening ceremony will occur tonight at Ho Nuoc Ngot Cultural and Exhibition Center in Soc Trang with art performances and fireworks. An international seminar named "Positioning the brand of Vietnamese rice" will be organized tomorrow, along with cultural activities … [Read more...] about Rice festival begins on Tuesday to honor agriculture