The film, made by the Vietnam Film Centre (VFC) in Hanoi, is a prize favourite, along with films from the Republic of Korea, China and some countries from Southeast Asia.

The film was chosen over 10 others by the HCM City Film Centre and VFC to take part in the festival.

Film director Vu Hong Son and two main actors in the film, Dũng Nhi (in the part of deputy minister Cao Đức Cẩm) and Phan Hoa (in the part of Miss Minh Phương) along with the centre’s producer were invited to take part in a discussion about the film’s production as part of the festival.

Chạy Án won a Golden Kite as the best television series in the 2007 National Television Festival. A 22-episode series, it dealt with controversial issues such as corruption fraud and drug addiction. It also drew from real-life scandals involving models and beauty contestants.

According to a representative of VFC, the festival’s organizing committee contracted the country’s filmmakers and Chạy Án was chosen to be sent abroad. This is a rare opportunity for any television film in Vietnam to take part in an international film festival.

The Tokyo International Film Festival was established in 1985. Along with the Shanghai International Film Festival, it is one of only two competitive film festivals in Asia accredited by the International Federation of Film Producers Associations.

While the festival’s awards have changed throughout the years, the Tokyo Grand Prix has stayed as the top prize. Other standard awards include the Special Jury Award and awards for best actor, best actress and best director.