Vietnamese documentary wins at Asian film festival in Da Nang

The documentary covered the tradition of ‘bride-kidnapping’ among the Mong ethnic minority in the northwest mountainous region of Vietnam.

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha and People’s artist Nhu Quynh handed over the award to the director at the award ceremony at Da Nang’s Trung Vuong Theatre on May 13.

The judging panel selected it as the best among 12 films of the Asian competition award, and eight films of the Vietnamese film competition at the week-long festival.

“It’s the longest documentary that I have done so far. I worked on the film in 2017-2021 with many difficulties seeking funding and assistance for the competition,” Diem said.

“I thank the funding organisations, friends and the film crew for supporting me during production. I also express my sincerely thanks to the film’s main subject Ma Thi Di and the Mong community in helping me experience and explore their lifestyle,” she said.

The 32-year-old director said she was fascinated by documentary film production as she could explore various cultural topics, especially regarding children and women.

“I’ll keep going on with more films on children and women as I think children have a very rich energy and dynamic.”

‘Bride-kidnapping’

Diem’s film, named on the shortlist of the 15 contenders for the best documentary film category at the 95th Academy Awards (Oscars), depicts the story of a 12-year-old Mong girl living in a village of the northwest mountainous region – where women get married very young and follow the tradition of ‘bride-kidnapping’.

Ma Thi Di, a main character of the film, begins her adolescence with physical and psychological changes, but her parents do not care about her immaturity. Di disappeared on a Lunar New Year’s Eve.

Diem, who began studying film in 2013, debuted her first short film – Con Đi Trường Học – about an HIV-positive single mother from the Dao ethnic group, and won the Silver Kite Award at the Vietnam Cinema Association Awards (Kite Awards) in 2014.

The special jury award of the Asian film competition went to World War III – an Iranian thriller co-written, directed, produced and edited by Houman Seyyedi.

Iranian Mohsen Tanabandeh, who starred in World War III, won the best actor award in the Asian Film division, while Juliet Bao Ngoc Doling cast in Glorious Ashes took the best actress award.

Director Kavich Neang, who is based in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, was named Best Director for While Building in the Asian film category, while the Best Screenplay was given to Joyland of Pakistan.

In the Vietnamese film competition category, the screenplay award was handed to Nha Uyen and her husband Aaron Toronto, for Đêm Tối Rực Rỡ (The Brilliant Darkness).

The Brilliant Darkness also dominated the award ceremony with Nha Uyen winning the Best Actress prize with Huynh Kien An taking the Best Actor.

“It’s an honour for me and the film crew. I dedicate the prize to my wife – a Da Nang-born woman – and colleagues for making the film,” An said.

Toronto praised actress Nha Uyen for her brave casting and performance in the film.

He said the success of the film would contribute to the development of Vietnam’s film industry in the future.

The Brilliant Darkness also won the Special Jury Award in the Vietnamese film category.

Tran Thanh, who directed Nhà Bà Nữ (The House of No Men), won the Best Actor in the Vietnamese film competition, and the award was received by his wife Hari Won.

Won, the film’s producer, said her husband was busy working on a television programme.

She said the couple spent the most difficult time in making the film as well as great efforts of the film crew members, actors and actress.

The House of No Men also won as the Best Vietnamese film award.

The best Vietnamese film in the Audience’s Choice Award went to Siêu Lừa Gặp Siêu Lầy (Hustler Vs Scammer) by director Vo Thanh Hoa.

The NETPAC (Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema) Award for Vietnamese film was given to Đất (Memento Mori: Earth).

The Republic of Korea’s film actress-director-screenwriter Moon Sori, who is head of the jury at the festival, said all members had many discussions on selecting the best awards.

The film festival, which was co-organised by the People’s Committee of Da Nang, the Vietnam Association of Film Promotion and Development (VFDA), and Da Nang’s Department of Culture and Sports, creates a chance for the city to become a hub for international film producers and stars in the future.

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