“Dao, Pho, and Piano is a film commissioned and funded by the State. The film has no popular release budget. All revenue must be submitted 100% to the state budget. After the National Cinema Center, there are 2 units, Beta and Cinestar, expressing their desire to screen for non-profit. This is good news for the dedication and contribution of private film businesses to the country’s film industry“, Vi Kien Thanh, Director of the Department of Cinema, shared with VTC News recently.
Vi Kien Thanh also added that the Department is currently deploying contracts with the 2 units and will then send the film for public screening in the nearest future. Beta Cinemas and Cinestar are expected to screen “Dao, Pho, and Piano” within 1 month.
In an exchange with Van Hoa newspaper, Chairman of Beta Group Bui Quang Minh – also known as Minh Beta and an investor on Shark Tank Vietnam program – said that the company wishes to screen the film “Dao, Pho, and Piano” at 18 Beta Cinemas.
“The company will be responsible for all costs associated with the film screening. With the spirit of contributing to the domestic film industry, we will screen the film with a non-profit purpose. All ticket revenue from the film will be submitted to the State budget to contribute to the development of quality artistic films with profound messages in the future“, shared Shark Minh Beta.
A scene in the film “Dao, Pho, and Piano”
Deputy Director of Cinestar Tran Quang also stated that they have sent a letter to the Department of Cinema requesting to screen the film that is making a box office “phenomenon”, showing the responsibility of promoting quality Vietnamese films to the general public.
“Dao, Pho, and Piano” is a film by director Phi Tien Son commissioned by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Department of Cinema, produced by I Film Production JSC, inspired by the 60-day battle at the end of 1946, early 1947 in Hanoi. Before its release during the Lunar New Year, the film won the Silver Lotus Award at the 23rd Vietnam Film Festival in November 2023.
After more than 10 days of screening, “Dao, Pho, and Piano” unexpectedly became a phenomenon with consecutive “sold out” shows. According to the data from Box Office Vietnam on February 19th, the film sold over 3,000 tickets with only 18 screenings, with an average of about 180 tickets per show.
The official website of the National Cinema Center – the only venue for film screenings at the current time – has been continuously crashing for the past 3 days due to high traffic. Images of long queues of people waiting to watch the film have also been widely shared on social media.
