Thanh HưngLHP DANAFF II officially held a press conference on June 6 in Hanoi. The Organizing Committee announced the list of Juries in the most important categories.
For the Asian Film category, the President of the Jury is renowned French-Hoa director and writer Do Tư Kiệt. The Jury members include former Director of CineFondation at Cannes Film Festival Georges Goldenstern (France), Director of Berlin International Film Festival (2019-2024) Meriette Rissenbeek (Germany), actress Trần Nữ Yên Khê, and young director Hà Lệ Diễm.
Young director Hà Lệ Diễm (Photo: Toàn Vũ).
For the Vietnamese Film category, chaired by Hong Kong (China) director Quan Cẩm Bằng, the jury members include producer Trần Thị Bích Ngọc, NSND Lê Khanh, director Leon Quang Lê, and coordinator and Program Director Lorna Tee - Secretary-General of the Asian Film Alliance Network (AFAN).
In the above list, Hà Lệ Diễm is a name that attracts attention and surprises.
A reporter asked, "Hà Lệ Diễm is a young director with little experience. Her debut documentary film, Những đứa trẻ trong sương, was honored as the Best Asian Film at DANAFF I. Is that the reason why the young female director was chosen as a jury this year? Is this choice convincing?"
Answering the above question, Dr. Ngô Phương Lan - President of the Vietnam Film Development Promotion Association and Director of DANAFF - stated that it is the aim of the Organizing Committee to have the voice of young Vietnamese filmmakers combined with renowned cinema experts from around the world. Dr. Phương Lan believes that director Hà Lệ Diễm has the courage and expertise to participate in judging the most important category of the event.
Dr. Ngô Phương Lan - President of the Vietnam Film Development Promotion Association and Director of DANAFF - speaking at the press conference (Photo: Đ.T)
On the sidelines of the press conference, in an interview with Dân trí, the young female director expressed that she felt pressured working with big names in international cinema industry, facing the challenge of a long list of films to be judged, despite having attended many different film festivals over the past two years and had the opportunity to meet many producers, directors, and watch many international works.
Regarding judging criteria, Hà Lệ Diễm mentioned adherence to the general rules of the jury, assessing aspects such as screenplay, cinematography, directorial approach, and actors' performance.
Hà Lệ Diễm was born in 1991 in Bắc Kạn. She graduated with a degree in Journalism from the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Hanoi National University, studied documentary filmmaking at TPD Film Talent Development Support Center, and participated in the documentary filmmaking program of Varan Vietnam.
Her project Những đứa trẻ trong sương has won the Best International Film Award at Docaviv Film Festival, Best Director at the documentary film festival in Amsterdam in 2021. At the end of 2022, the project was nominated for Best Documentary Film at the Oscars.
Regarding DANAFF II, the Organizing Committee announced that this year there are 63 films competing in various categories, an increase of 17 films compared to last year. However, Dr. Ngô Phương Lan stated, "We do not want to talk about the quantity, but the quality of films participating in DANAFF II that satisfies the Organizing Committee."
The film "Mai" by Trấn Thành (Photo: Film crew)
Facing "Lật mặt 7: Một điều ước" by Lý Hải in the Vietnamese Film category at DANAFF II (Photo: Film crew)
Specifically, the Asian Film category includes 13 works, with two Vietnamese projects, Bên trong vỏ kén vàng (Phạm Thiên Ân) and Cu Li không bao giờ khóc (Phạm Ngọc Lân). Cu Li không bao giờ khóc won the Best Debut Feature Film at the Berlin International Film Festival 2024. Bên trong vỏ kén vàng by Phạm Thiên Ân previously won the Golden Camera at the Cannes Film Festival 2023.
The two Vietnamese representatives will compete against entries from Iran, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Australia, the Philippines, China, Indonesia, and India.
For the Vietnamese Film category, it includes films that have been box office hits in the past year such as: Mai (Trấn Thành), Lật mặt 7: Một điều ước (Lý Hải), and Đào, phở và piano (Phi Tiến Sơn).
Dr. Ngô Phương Lan mentioned that convincing high-grossing films to participate in the film festival is not easy. This is also the first time in 6 parts of Lật mặt that Lý Hải participated in a film festival. Previously, director Lý Hải always declined invitations to participate in such events. The film Mai also made its festival debut after many selections as there are numerous film festivals organized every year.
"For the films that have been loved by the audience, filmmakers are also not enthusiastic about participating in film festivals because if they do not win an award, they fear that the audience will not watch their films the following year.
However, DANAFF II was able to convince them even though winning isn't guaranteed right away. Looking at the list of films competing in DANAFF II, one can see the current face of Vietnamese cinema," Dr. Ngô Phương Lan expressed.
In addition to film screenings, the DANAFF II will also feature various special events and activities such as: Vietnamese Cinema Today program; Spotlight on French Cinema; Director and NSND Đặng Nhật Minh's film selection.
Panel discussions and forums: Director Đặng Nhật Minh's creative style; French Cinema and its relationship with Vietnamese cinema; Film production collaboration - international experience and development solutions; Sharing experience in connecting coastal film festivals.
The DANAFF II Film Festival will take place from July 2-6 in Da Nang City. The Opening Ceremony (July 2 evening) and the Closing Ceremony - Award Ceremony (July 6 evening) will be broadcast live on Vietnam Television, Da Nang Television, National Assembly Television, provincial and municipal television stations nationwide, and digital platforms.
