Last year, audience members greeted the first-ever Vietnamese International Film Festival, held in Southern California, with much acclaim. Now they’re eagerly awaiting a ViFF sequel next year.

To raise funds for the $30,000 event, its organizers — sponsored by the Vietnamese American Arts & Letters Association and the VietNamese Language and Culture group - staged a concert sprinkled with skits, tunes and plenty of movie talk over the weekend. More than 200 supporters attended, filling the Ngöôøi Vieät community room in Little Saigon.

Here, some images from the gathering:

Co-emcee Anhdao Le Do holds a picture up for auction, painted by Nguyen Kien Tuan, who directed “Watermelon Island,” shown on VIFF’s opening night in 2003. Director Ham Tran and colleague Lam Nguyen debut a trailer from their eagerly-anticipated film, “Journey from the Fall.” Members of drama troupe Club O’Noodles — Man Luong, Billy Vu Lam and Uyen Huynh — portray characters in “Cheesy Movie.” Fundraising chair Chuong Duong takes the mike, urging the audience to get involved. Singer Thuy Linh perform a jazz number, with accompaniment from guitarist Peter Nguyen. The cast and crew of “Spirits” take a moment to jive with the listeners: Taylur Thu Hien Ngo, director Victor Vu, Katie Luong, Dang Hung Son, Catherine Thuy Ai. Photos by Hoang Kim Anh Thu.

Film submissions to the festival are being accepted until Dec. 31, 2004. For more information on next year's event, please go to: www.VietFilmFest.com.