Grand Jury Trống Đồng Award for Best Feature –

The best feature film is chosen based on several criteria including: production value, artistic merits, storyline, and community relevance.

Summer School, 2001 (Letní škola, 2001), directed by Dužan Dương

A teenage boy returns to his family after years apart, scarred from being sent to Vietnam while his younger brother stayed in Czechia. After reunion, he faces a distant father, a mother desperate to mend the past, and a brother uneasy about sharing the spotlight. One chaotic summer pushes them to their limits when the younger brother falls from a roof. Between misunderstandings and clumsy family dynamics, they learn that sometimes, healing begins by letting the cracks show.

Grand Jury Trống Đồng Award for Best Short (tie)

The best short film is chosen based on several criteria including: production value, artistic merits, storyline, and community relevance.

On Healing Land, Birds Perch (Đất lành, chim đậu), directed by Naja Pham Lockwood

On Healing Land, Birds Perch is a short documentary that tells the remarkable stories behind one of the most iconic photos in history, while acting as a portal into the “varied carols,” to borrow from Walt Whitman, of trauma and the American journey. This is the first documentary, from a Vietnamese born filmmaker that explores the continuing aftershocks of the Vietnam War from the perspectives of both sides of the war: North Vietnamese and South Vietnamese including Vietnamese Americans alive today. The story is told through the iconic Pulitzer winning photo of General Loan shooting a Vietcong captain Nguyen Van Lem in the head on the second day of the 1968 Tet Offensive.

Long’s Long Lost & Mini Mart, directed by Julian Doan

In the back of a Little Saigon convenience store, a customer seeking closure reanimates his dead father for one last conversation. When his expectations are upended, the no-nonsense clerk must deal with the fallout.

Best Actor Award

Awarded for the best performance by an actor in any feature or short film at Viet Film Fest.

Tô Tiến Tài, from Summer School, 2001

A teenage boy returns to his family after years apart, scarred from being sent to Vietnam while his younger brother stayed in Czechia. After reunion, he faces a distant father, a mother desperate to mend the past, and a brother uneasy about sharing the spotlight. One chaotic summer pushes them to their limits when the younger brother falls from a roof. Between misunderstandings and clumsy family dynamics, they learn that sometimes, healing begins by letting the cracks show.

Best Actress Award

Awarded for the best performance by an actress in any feature or short film at Viet Film Fest.

Tú Oanh, from Don’t Cry, Butterfly (Mưa trên cánh bướm)

Middle-aged Tam (Tú Oanh) is a meticulous wedding planner and the primary breadwinner of her household. Yet, beneath her composed exterior, she is overwhelmed by mounting domestic chaos. Her emotionally distant husband (Lê Vũ Long) is publicly exposed for infidelity on live television, and her young daughter Ha (Nguyễn Nam Linh) dreams only of escaping their provincial town for a better future in Europe. As Tam’s carefully constructed family begins to crumble—symbolized by a crack in her bedroom ceiling that starts to leak—she turns to a renowned spell master for help. But instead of reversing her misfortune, a mysterious and unsettling force is unwittingly unleashed and begins to haunt both her home and her family.

Best Cinematography

Awarded to the best achievement in cinematography in any feature or short film at Viet Film Fest.

Sơn Đoàn, from Việt and Nam

Set in the depths of a coal mine in Vietnam, Trương Minh Qúy’s film follows Việt and Nam, two young miners and lovers, during their final days together. As they carry out their physically demanding work, the pair prepare for an impending separation – Việt (Phạm Thanh Hải) is set to leave the country in search of economic opportunity, while Nam (Đào Duy Bảo Định) stays behind. Together, they spend their remaining time searching for traces of Việt’s father believed to be buried beneath the remnants of war. Through moments of intimacy and silence, the film traces their emotional bond as it deepens under the pressure of parting and the lingering specter of unhealed wounds. Names are exchanged, gestures mirrored, and identities blur, offering a portrait of love shaped by labor, memory, and loss.

Spotlight Award

The Spotlight Award is given to a film that either highlights an important issue or burgeoning filmmaker.

Year of the Cat, directed by Tony Nguyen

Year of the Cat follows filmmaker Tony Nguyễn on an extraordinary quest to solve the mystery of his father, lost in the chaos of the Fall of Saigon 50 years ago. Crafted as an investigative home movie, this intensely raw documentary weaves together moments of humor and heartache, offering an intimate look at how the children of refugees are shaped by war and loss. As Tony delves into his family’s history, the film reveals the emotional lengths we go to in confronting the past—and the possibility of healing as we reclaim and transform our futures.

The Luminary Award

Dr. Linda Trinh Vo

The Luminary Award presented to Dr. Linda Vo at Viet Film Fest 2025 honors her significant impact and leadership in the establishment of the festival. Dr. Vo is a professor and former chair of Asian American Studies at UC Irvine. She was actively involved with Viet Film Fest in advisory and leadership roles. The award recognizes her contributions to amplifying Vietnamese American stories and culture through community engagement, and support of Vietnamese cinema in the diaspora.

Audience Choice for Best Feature (tie)

The Audience Choice Awards are honors given to films that have been selected as favorites by VFF’s attendees

Once Upon a Love Story (Ngày xưa có một chuyện tình), directed by Minh Dinh Le Trinh

Once Upon a Love Story (Ngày xưa có một chuyện tình), adapted from Nguyễn Nhật Ánh’s novel of the same name, is a poignant coming-of-age melodrama centered on three childhood friends entangled in an evolving love triangle. The story begins with Phúc (Nhật Hoàng)’s unexpected homecoming, where a chance encounter with a little boy stirs memories of his youth spent with his closest friend Vinh (Avin Lu) and his beloved Miền (Ngọc Xuân). Growing up in a tranquil countryside town, the trio formed a deep bond through childhood. While Vinh harbored affection for Miền, Miền fell in love with Phúc. Yet, amidst their unspoken desires, the innocence of first love and the intimacy of friendship blossom with sincerity. As they come of age, the weight of family responsibilities casts a shadow over their once carefree world.

Summer School, 2001 (Letní škola, 2001), directed by Dužan Duong

A teenage boy returns to his family after years apart, scarred from being sent to Vietnam while his younger brother stayed in Czechia. After reunion, he faces a distant father, a mother desperate to mend the past, and a brother uneasy about sharing the spotlight. One chaotic summer pushes them to their limits when the younger brother falls from a roof. Between misunderstandings and clumsy family dynamics, they learn that sometimes, healing begins by letting the cracks show.

Audience Choice for Best Short

The Audience Choice Awards are honors given to films that have been selected as favorites by VFF’s attendees

Long’s Long Lost & Mini Mart, directed by Julian Doan

In the back of a Little Saigon convenience store, a customer seeking closure reanimates his dead father for one last conversation. When his expectations are upended, the no-nonsense clerk must deal with the fallout.

Trần Tường Huy Volunteer Appreciation Award

Bruce Ly, Technical Support and Box Office Assistant

Bruce has been an indelible part of our festival, providing seamless technical support not only at our in-person events but also for our virtual Q&As. His dedication, creativity, and problem-solving skills have made him a go-to person whenever challenges arise.

Bruce is more than a “go-getter”—he brings vision, ingenuity, and heart to everything he does. He consistently goes above and beyond to ensure the success of our festival while advancing the mission of Viet Film Fest, promoting Vietnamese stories and elevating our community’s voices.
We are beyond grateful for Bruce’s commitment, energy, and passion. His contributions have made a lasting impact, and we are thrilled to honor him with this award. Congratulations, Bruce! This recognition is truly well deserved!

Acknowledges the inspiring service, enthusiasm, and dedication of an exceptional volunteer

More about the award

The Trần Tường Huy Volunteer Appreciation Award was founded in 2018 to acknowledge the inspiring service, enthusiasm, and dedication of an exceptional VAALA volunteer at our annual Viet Film Fest. This award is named in honor of a longtime volunteer who embodied the spirit of community, positive energy, and kindness: Trần Tường Huy (1969-2018). Huy developed his inspiration for community service as an undergraduate at UC Irvine (class of 1993) where he became involved with a variety of organizations and projects that brought greater visibility and voice to Vietnamese Americans. Huy became actively involved with VAALA from the very first Vietnamese International Film Festival (ViFF) in 2003 and served on committees such as screening and publicity/community outreach. Throughout the years, Huy continued to support VAALA in significant ways, most notably as a beloved emcee at many of our events. He contributed his remarkable talent as a skillful interpreter, making our programs accessible and creating a sense of belonging for multiple generations of diverse participants. This award will continue to honor Huy’s memory and promote the spirit of giving and inclusive volunteerism. Without our community of passionate, skilled, and dedicated volunteers, we would not be able to produce our annual film festival and year-round arts programming.  VAALA volunteers form lifelong friendships and exemplify our values of community cultural connection, collaboration, and compassion.