The Yxine Film Festival (YxineFF), organized by the Saigon Media Company and local film aficionados, also aims to broaden the independent film-making community in Vietnam.

“Online film festivals are new, and YxineFF is the first project by Vietnamese that will take place completely online,” said German-Vietnamese Marcus Manh Cuong Vu, the head of the festival organization board.

Film makers can enter their works, including features, documentaries and animated films, in the competition until September 15.

The festival has attracted more than 30 films from Vietnamese film-makers here and abroad.

A screening of nominated films is being held at 9pm every Saturday at the festival website, and an online meeting between film-makers and viewers takes place an hour later. The awards ceremony will be held at the end of the year.