Vietnam eases film restrictions

In an attempt to boost its film industry, communist Vietnam will let private companies make movies independently rather than require studios to work through the government.

Scripts no longer will have to be approved by censors before production starts. But finished films will have to be approved before they're released, said Nguyen Thi Hong Ngat, deputy director of the Ministry of Culture and Information's cinema department.

Under the changes, film studios will be able to register as private businesses and operate independently rather than making movies under the name of a state-run film studio and having to pay a management fee to the government, Ngat said.

The changes don't affect foreigners, who are still barred from investing in Vietnamese films.