6. Supporting the development of the film sector in Lao PDR

There are a number of initiatives taking place to promote the development of the film sector in Lao PDR and leading to positive outcomes. The Government of Lao PDR has allocated fund on an annual basis to the Department of Cinema to finance film making and purchasing of equipment (e.g. this figure in 2004-2005 is 125,000 US$). Support has also been given by international donors such as from JICA for purchasing of audio-visual equipment. Every year, the Faculty of Mass communication at the National University offers five scholarships for mass communication students. For the distribution, the Luang Prabang Film Festival has been organized since 2008 with private funds and become a good venue for showing newly made films. The Department of Cinema also organizes since the 1990s mobile cinema around the country. There are over a dozens of cinema theatres currently operate in the country, 12 of them are in Vientiane Capital and Pakse.      

The Lao film makers have attended series of the international film festivals in France (Cannes), China, Thailand and within ASEAN countries. A number of films have been nominated for the international competitions. Every year from 1996 to 2014 Japan invited 3 Lao film-maker participants along with their films to their international film festivals. One of the first commercial feature-length films was Sabaidee Luang Prabang, was made in 2008. Recently a few local production companies have succeeded to produce Lao feature films and gain international recognition. Among them are Lao New Wave Cinema's At the Horizon, directed by Anysay Keola, which was screened at the OzAsia Film Festival and Lao Art Media's Chanthaly directed by Mattie Do, which was screened at the 2013 Fantastic Fest.In September 2017, Laos submitted Dearest Sister, Mattie Do's second feature film, to the 90th Academy Awards for consideration for Best Foreign Language Film, marking the country's first submission for the Oscars. There is a cartoon animation (Thao Thong Dee)  for children by a national artist with the support of a Japanese volunteer.