19th Vietnam Film Festival
# 19th Vietnam Film Festival

The 19th Vietnam Film Festival was held from December 1 to December 5, 2015, in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, with the slogan "Vietnamese Cinema - Ethnicity, Humanity, Creativity, Integration" (Vietnamese: "Điện ảnh Việt Nam - Dân tộc, Nhân văn, Sáng tạo, Hội nhập").

## Event

At this Film Festival, for the first time, there is a selection round for entries in all genres: feature films, documentaries, science films and animated films. Also for the first time, films participating in the Vietnam Film Festival are divided into categories: films in Competition and films in the Panorama program. For the first time, the model of film production ordered by the State combined with the social capital of private film studios achieved high social and economic efficiency.

The jury awarded 4 Golden Lotus for the categories: Feature Film, Documentary, Science Film and Animated Film.

### Participation

Notably, the 2015 Vietnam Film Festival was the first time that a selection committee was established to select films for competition and show, not all units sent to participate.

From hundreds of films submitted for selection, the 19th Film Festival's Selection Committee has selected 125 films of various genres, from 41 film production units across the country to be included in 2 sections: “Films in Competition” (92 films) and “Films shown in the Panorama program” (33 films).

Among the 92 entries, there are 20 feature films, 6 direct-to-video feature films, 6 documentary feature films, 27 direct-to-video documentary, 10 science films, and 23 animated films. Films for this year's competition are films produced by cinema establishments and licensed for popularization from September 1, 2013, to October 10, 2015.

The new feature of this film festival is the Panorama Program section (Vietnamese: "Toàn cảnh điện ảnh Việt Nam"). The program will show to the public the films that attended the festival but were not eligible and not selected for the competition list (15 feature films and 18 direct-to-video documentary films). However, there are still 2 award for the most favorite film in this section along with the "Film In Competition" section, voted by the audience.

In addition, to celebrate the 85th anniversary of the founding of Vietnam Communist Party, 40 years of Southern Liberation Day - National Reunification and 70 years of August Revolution and National Day, the General Department of Politics of the Vietnam People's Army (Vietnamese: Tổng cục chính trị Quân đội nhân dân Việt Nam) had given the award for the "Best Film on War and Revolution".

### Jury

This year's film festival continues to have 3 jury panels like previous years.

The jury in the Feature Film category includes: director Vũ Xuân Hưng (Head), director/actor Lê Cung Bắc, director Đặng Tất Bình, writer Nguyễn Đông Thức, screenwriter Lưu Nghiệp Quỳnh, composer Phú Quang, cinematographer Vũ Đức Tùng, painter Lã Quý Tùng and actress Vân Trang.

In the Documentary - Scientific Film category, the jury includes: Doctor/Film Critic Trần Luân Kim (Head), director Vũ Lệ Mỹ, director/cinematographer Nguyễn Quốc Thành, journalist Ngô Ngọc Ngũ Long and director Đoàn Hồng Lê.

In the Documentary - Scientific Film category, there are 5 members of the jury: director/animator Nguyễn Hà Bắc (Head), director/animator Nguyễn Thị Phương Hoa, writer Đoàn Thạch Biền, songwriter Nguyễn Quỳnh Hợp and journalist Chu Thị Thu Hằng.

### Activities

A notable activity to prepare for the film festival is the Welcoming 19th Vietnam Film Festival Film Week. The opening starts at 19:30 pm on November 18, 2015, at the National Cinema Center (Hanoi) with the film "Cuộc đời của Yến" and Lê Độ Cinema (Đà Nẵng City) with the film "Người trở về".

According to the schedule, there will be two seminars to take place:

* "Brand building, position of Vietnamese films" (Vietnamese: "Xây dựng thương hiệu, vị thế của phim Việt Nam")
* "Supporting policies and preferential measures for the development of the film industry" (Vietnamese: "Chính sách hỗ trợ và biện pháp ưu đãi phát triển nền công nghiệp điện ảnh"), with the participation of speakers, filmmakers from UK, USA, Denmark, Canada, Hong Kong (China), Philippines and Vietnam

Along with that, there were 3 exchanges including:

* Film artists with students
* Film artists with soldiers of the Division 9, Corps 4 in Củ Chi
* Meeting with artists participating in works on the theme of Liberation of the South and reunification of the country.

In Ho Chi Minh City, during the five days of the festival (from December 1 to December 5), in addition to feature films in the competition section, the audience also enjoyed free films in the Panorama Program section at BHD cinemas (February 3 Street, District 10), CGV Hùng Vương (District 5), Galaxy Nguyễn Du (District 1), Mega GS Cao Thắng (District 3). According to the organizers, tickets for the welcome film week as well as at the festival are distributed at the screening venue 1–2 days before each film is shown.

The opening ceremony took place at 19:00 on December 1 at Hòa Bình Theater (Ho Chi Minh City), broadcast live on channel VTV1. The closing/awarding ceremony took place at Hoa Binh Theater at 20:00 on December 5, which will be broadcast live on channel VTV6.

### Critical Reviews

The 19th Vietnam Film Festival received more positive reviews than previous festivals. The plus point for the 19th Vietnam Film Festival is that it has selected many good films to participate in the competition. Through the selection round, the categories of films submitted to the competition were diverse, with many quality films appearing and avoiding the "catastrophic" films like many previous festival seasons.

In particular, the maturity of the young film crew has added a new voice next to the previous seniors. Another factor is that overseas Vietnamese filmmakers return to their home country to establish their careers, making the Vietnamese film market more vibrant and remarkable.

## Official Selection

### Feature film

**In Competition**

| Original title | English title | Director(s) | Production |
| - | - | - | - |
| Bước khẽ đến hạnh phúc | Gently Walk to Happiness | Lưu Trọng Ninh | Hồng Ngát Film, VietMe Film |
| Chàng trai năm ấy | Dandelion | Nguyễn Quang Huy | WePro Entertainment, Galaxy Studio |
| Cuộc đời của Yến | Yen's Life | Đinh Tuấn Vũ | VFS |
| Dịu dàng | Gentle | Lê Văn Kiệt | Coco Paris Media |
| Đập cánh giữa không trung | Flapping in the Middle of Nowhere | Nguyễn Hoàng Điệp | (independent film) |
| Đường xuyên rừng | Road Through the Forest | Xuân Cường | Giải Phóng Film |
| Hương ga | Rise | Cường Ngô | Media Village, TNA Entertainment |
| Lạc giới | Paradise in Heart | Phi Tiến Sơn | Tincom Media |
| Mỹ nhân | Beautiful Woman | Đinh Thái Thụy | Giải Phóng Film |
| Người trở về | Returnee | Đặng Thái Huyền | People's Army Cinema |
| Nhà tiên tri | The Prophecy | Vương Đức | VFS |
| Những đứa con của làng | The Children of the Village | Nguyễn Đức Việt | Hồng Ngát Film |
| Nước 2030 | 2030 | Nguyễn Võ Nghiêm Minh | Saigon Media |
| Quyên | Farewell, Berlin Wall | Nguyễn Phan Quang Bình | BHD |
| Scandal: Hào quang trở lại | Scandal 2 | Victor Vu | Galaxy Studio, Early Risers Media Group |
| Sống cùng lịch sử | Live With History | Nguyễn Thanh Vân | VFS |
| Thầu Chín ở Xiêm | Ho Chi Minh in Siam | Bùi Tuấn Dũng | Hodafilm |
| Tôi thấy hoa vàng trên cỏ xanh | Yellow Flowers on the Green Grass | Victor Vu | Galaxy M&E, Saigon Concert, Phương Nam Film |
| Trên đỉnh bình yên | On the Peaceful Peak | Hữu Mười | Feature Film Studio I |
| Trúng số | Jackpot | Dustin Nguyễn | Dreamscape D.B.S |

    Highlighted title indicates Golden Lotus winner.

**Panorama Program**

| Original title | English title | Director(s) | Production |
| - | - | - | - |
| 49 ngày | 49 Days | Nhất Trung | NT Studio |
| Bộ ba rắc rối | Triple Troubles | Võ Tấn Bình | Chánh Phương Film, CJ Entertainment |
| Cầu vồng không sắc | Rainbow Without Colours | Nguyễn Quang Tuyến | Leo Media & Technology |
| Cô dâu đại chiến 2 | Battle of the Brides 2 | Victor Vu | Galaxy Studio, Saiga Films |
| Chung cư ma | Hush | Văn M. Phạm | Skyline Media |
| Để Mai tính 2 | Let Hoi Decide | Charlie Nguyễn | CJ Entertainment, Chánh Phương Film |
| Đoạt hồn | Hollow | Hàm Trần | BHD |
| Em là bà nội của anh | Sweet 20 | Phan Gia Nhật Linh | CJ Entertainment, HKFilm |
| Hiệp sĩ mù | Blind Warrior | Lưu Huỳnh | VI-PHIM Entertainment |
| Kungfu phở | | Nguyễn Quốc Duy | Skyline Media |
| Lật mặt | Face Off | Lý Hải | Lý Hải Productions |
| Ma dai | Tenacious Ghost | Trần Nguyễn Hoàng Duy, Đỗ Đức Thịnh | Thiên Phúc Entertainment |
| Ngủ với hồn ma | | Nguyễn Bá Vũ | Skyline Media |
| Quả tim máu | Vengeful Heart | Victor Vu | Poseidon Media Group |
| Thần tượng | The Talent | Nguyễn Quang Huy | WePro Entertainment |

    Highlighted title indicates the most favorite film voted by the audience.

## Awards

### Feature film

| Award | Award | Winner |
| - | - | - |
| Film | Golden Lotus | Yellow Flowers on the Green Grass |
| Film | Silver Lotus | The Children of the Village Yen's Life |
| Film | Jury's Merit | Returnee Ho Chi Minh in Siam Jackpot |
| Film | Best Film on War and Revolution | The Prophecy Road Through the Forest |
| Film | Audience Choice | Yellow Flowers on the Green Grass Sweet 20 |
| Best Director | Best Director | Victor Vu – Yellow Flowers on the Green Grass |
| Best Actor | Best Actor | Trung Anh – The Children of the Village |
| Best Actress | Best Actress | Thúy Hằng – The Children of the Village, Yen's Life |
| Best Supporting Actor | Best Supporting Actor | Huy Cường – The Children of the Village Thanh Duy – Flapping in the Middle of Nowhere |
| Best Supporting Actress | Best Supporting Actress | Kim Hiền – Beautiful Woman |
| Best Screenplay | Best Screenplay | Đinh Thiên Phúc – Ho Chi Minh in Siam Nguyễn Thu Dung, Đặng Thái Huyền – Returnee |
| Best Cinematography | Best Cinematography | Vũ Quốc Tuấn – The Prophecy, Yen's Life Nguyễn K'Linh – Scandal 2, Yellow Flowers on the Green Grass |
| Best Art Design | Best Art Design | Nguyễn Dân Nam – The Children of the Village, Yen's Life |
| Best Original Score | Best Original Score | Lê Cát Trọng Lý – Yen's Life |
| Best Sound Design | Best Sound Design | The Sound Crew from Crane Song Group – 2030 |

**Direct-to-video**

| Award | Award | Winner |
| - | - | - |
| Film | Golden Lotus | not awarded |
| Film | Silver Lotus | Đất lành |
| Film | Jury's Merit | Siêu quậy lên chùa |
| Best Director | Best Director | Đặng Thái Huyền – Đất lành |
| Best Actor | Best Actor | not awarded |
| Best Actress | Best Actress | Nguyễn Thu Thủy – Đất lành |

### Documentary/Science film

**Documentary film**

| Award | Award | Winner |
| - | - | - |
| Film | Golden Lotus | Đỉnh cao chiến thắng |
| Film | Silver Lotus | Cỏ xanh im lặng Triết gia Trần Đức Thảo suy tư cùng thế kỷ |
| Film | Jury's Merit | Trường Sa - Việt Nam Giọt nước giữa đại dương 30/4 - Ngày thống nhất |
| Best Director | Best Director | Đào Thanh Tùng – Triết gia Trần Đức Thảo suy tư cùng thế kỷ |
| Best Screenplay | Best Screenplay | Đào Trọng Khánh – Giọt nước giữa đại dương |
| Best Cinematography | Best Cinematography | Dương Văn Huy – Người bản Hốc |
| Best Sound Design | Best Sound Design | Trần Kiên – Đỉnh cao chiến thắng |

**Science film**

| Award | Award | Winner |
| - | - | - |
| Film | Golden Lotus | Bản hòa tấu Sơn Đoòng |
| Film | Silver Lotus | Chúa sơn lâm sau song sắt Sinh ra trong mùa nổi |
| Film | Jury's Merit | Ứng dụng công nghệ ECMO tại Việt Nam Hậu cần trong tác chiến vùng đồng nước |
| Best Director | Best Director | Nguyễn Hoàng Lâm – Bản hòa tấu Sơn Đoòng |
| Best Screenplay | Best Screenplay | Tạ Thị Huệ – Ứng dụng công nghệ tế bào gốc chữa bệnh |
| Best Cinematography | Best Cinematography | Nguyễn Tài Việt, Dương Văn Thuận – Nhanh và chậm |
| Best Sound Design | Best Sound Design | Dương Thế Vinh – Chúa sơn lâm sau song sắt |

### Animated film

| Award | Award | Winner |
| - | - | - |
| Film | Golden Lotus | Cậu bé cờ lau |
| Film | Silver Lotus | Đàn sếu có trở về Những mặt phẳng |
| Film | Jury's Merit | Bay về phía bầu trời Người cha |
| Best Director | Best Director | Phùng Văn Hà – Cậu bé cờ lau |
| Best Screenplay | Best Screenplay | Phạm Thị Thanh Hà, Phạm Đình Hải – Những mặt phẳng |
| Best Shaping Animator | Best Shaping Animator | Lý Thu Hà – Cậu bé cờ lau |
| Best Acting Animator | Best Acting Animator | The Animator Crew of Cậu bé cờ lau |
| Best Original Score | Best Original Score | Lương Ngọc Châu – Người cha, Quả cầu nổi |
| Best Sound Design | Best Sound Design | Nguyễn Duy Long – Những mặt phẳng |
