VIENTIANE, March 7 (Xinhua) -- The annual Vientianale International Film Festival is scheduled to be held on March 22-26 with 40 feature and short films from 25 countries and regions, including award-winning productions.

The festival is a well-established annual event including the short film competition awards ceremony that will take place on March 26 along Lao capital Vientiane's Walking Street.

The competition has grown into a real springboard for aspiring Lao filmmakers to showcase their talent with a record-breaking 42 entries submitted this year, including submissions from Luang Prabang, Xieng Khouang and Champassak provinces of Laos, Vientianale Film Festival Co-Director Helene Ouvrards was quoted as saying on Tuesday.

Screening of films during this year's Vientianale Film Festival will take place everyday at the Cinema Department while open air cinema screenings will be held at the Walking Street by the Mekong River every night.

The Vientianale awards are growing into a major event in 2017 with a total of 11 awards, including six new categories. The best film will receive prize money of almost 1,000 U.S. dollars, reported Lao state-run news agency KPL on Tuesday.