Australian Embassy
Vietnam
Embassy address: 8 Dao Tan Street, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi - Telephone: 3831 7755 - Fax: 3831 7711

Australian Embassy Film Roadshow 2007
Opening Night Event
Speech by
Australian Ambassador, H.E Mr Bill Tweddell
26 January, 2007 – Hanoi


Your Excellencies, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen – it is my great pleasure to welcome you to the opening night in Hanoi of the Australian Embassy Film Roadshow 2007.

I would like to acknowledge the Ministry of Culture and Information for its assistance with this event. Our particular thanks go to the Director of the International Cooperation Department, Mr Nguyen Van Tinh, the Director of the National Cinema Centre, and Mme Ha Vi Thuy for their tireless cooperation with our team at the Embassy.

I would like to give a special welcome to all of our sponsors tonight: to the representatives of IDP education consultants and to Vietnam Airlines, both of whom also sponsored the 2005 film festival; to the Overseas Vietnamese Club or OV Club; to the Melia Hotel here in Hanoi; to the Vine for catering tonight’s VIP function; and to Australian Education International. Thank you all for your generous support in promoting Australian culture.

Following the success of the 2005 Roadshow and to celebrate Australia Day 2007, this year’s event will bring together a total of six feature films and six short films. The festival, which has already visited Ho Chi Minh City, will play in Hanoi from tonight until 1 February.

Tonight’s Opening Night films, Mimi and Danny Deckchair, will also be screened, from tomorrow, in seven cities in the northern provinces of Vietnam, including: Son La, Dien Bien Phu, Lai Chau, Sa Pa, Lao Cai, Ha Giang and Cao Bang.

This year’s selection of films highlights the Australian sense of humour and our connection to family. They also provide insight into the multicultural aspects of Australian society. The films draw attention to Australia’s beautiful natural landscapes, highlighting yet another characteristic our large and magnificent country. Ultimately, the Roadshow features some of Australia’s finest actors, and showcases the expertise and excellence of the Australian film industry.

In the spirit of our ongoing cultural exchange with Vietnam, all films will be shown twice: once in Vietnamese and once in English. But tonight’s film is an exception: it will be screened in English, with Vietnamese voice-over available through headsets.

In addition to the short film Mimi, our main feature film tonight is Danny’s Deckchair.

Danny’s Deckchair is a romantic comedy about good Aussie larrikin who just wants to have a holiday. For those of you not used to Australian slang, a larrikin is a fun-loving Australian who loves life, likes to play practical jokes and often gets into a bit of trouble because of it.

Many of you will also be familiar with the saying a change is as good as a holiday. Well, this film perhaps proves the opposite; that sometimes a holiday is as good as a change.

I won’t give away too much of the story, but before we get on with the show, I would like to give special thanks to Public Diplomacy and Cultural Relations team at the Embassy, particularly to Ms An and Mr Damien Coke. The success of this event, and this night, is a testament to their talents and organizational skill. And to the rest of the large team that worked so hard on this event, I thank you also.

Last, thank you all, our guests, for coming along tonight:

• our Vietnamese friends, with whom we enjoy such a rich and exciting relationship;
• our international friends, with whom we share the wonderful experience of living and working in Vietnam;
• and our fellow Aussies – on this our national day.

Now, I invite you all to enjoy the screening of the Opening Night films for the Australian Embassy Film Roadshow 2007 in Hanoi. I give you, Mimi and Danny’s Deckchair. Please enjoy!

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