Santa Ana, October 20th – After nearly two weeks of showcasing the best of Vietnamese cinema, Viet Film Fest (VFF) 2023 proudly announces the successful conclusion of this year’s festival. VFF, presented by the Vietnamese American Arts and Letters Association, featured a wide selection of Vietnamese and Vietnamese diasporic films, having nearly 44 shorts and 11 feature films presented. With over 3,000 attendees, the success of the festival could not have been possible without the support of our dedicated audience and incredible team.
Attendees of Viet Film Fest, which spanned virtually from September 30th to October 15th and in-person at The Frida Cinema in Downtown Santa Ana from October 6th to 7th, were treated to a diverse selection of films, insightful panels, and unforgettable experiences. Highlights from this year’s festival included a special Opening Night screening and Family Day event of, The Spectacular Adventure of Little Prodigy (Trạng Tí Phiêu Lưu Ký), where our audience members dressed up in cultural attire in a multi-generation celebration. Additionally, another high point was our High School Students’ Day screening where locally partnered Orange County high schools brought over 700 students to experience Viet Film Fest in person. The virtual aspect of the festival also allowed audiences all over the world to view Viet Film Fest from the comfort of their own home.
The festival featured the highly anticipated Trống Đồng Awards Reception at Saigon Grand Center in Fountain Valley, recognizing outstanding contributions to Vietnamese cinema. The following awards were presented:
Grand-Jury Trống Đồng Award for Best Feature
The Accidental Getaway Driver, directed by Sing J. Lee (USA)
Grand-Jury Trống Đồng Award for Best Short
Good Chips, directed by Nell Hensey (Ireland)
Best Actor
Lê Công Hoàng, Tro tàn rực rỡ (Glorious Ashes), directed by Bùi Thạc Chuyên (Vietnam)
Best Actress
Elly Murray, Good Chips, directed by Nell Hensey (Ireland)
Spotlight Award
In Living Memory, directed by Quyên Nguyen-Le (USA)
Audience Choice Award for Feature Film
Trạng Tí Phiêu Lưu Ký (The Spectacular Adventure of Little Prodigy), directed by Phan Gia Nhật Linh (Vietnam)
Audience Choice Award for Short Film
Supermarket Affairs, directed by Hang Luong Nguyen (Vietnam)
As we bid farewell to Viet Film Fest 2023, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who made this event possible:
- Filmmakers: Without the creativity and dedication of our filmmakers, Viet Film Fest would not exist. We appreciate your commitment to telling unique stories that resonate with our audiences.
- Sponsors: We are immensely grateful to our sponsors for their generous support, as their contributions have been instrumental in making this festival a reality.
- Community and Media Partners: We extend our gratitude to our media and community partners for their support in covering and promoting the festival, helping to bring the cinematic art and culture of the Vietnamese community to a broader audience.
- Audience: Our warmest thanks go to our loyal attendees, who continue to show unwavering support for Vietnamese cinema. Your enthusiasm and curiosity over these past 20 years are what inspire us to keep bringing this festival to life.
- Our Dedicated Team: Last but not least, a special thank you to the hardworking and passionate team of volunteers and staff, who put in countless hours to curate and execute a memorable festival.
“Viet Film Fest 2023 has not only celebrated the art of filmmaking but also fostered connections and a sense of community among the lovers of Vietnamese cinema.” said Executive Director, Ysa Le, “We look forward to welcoming you back for the next edition of Viet Film Fest, which promises to be even more extraordinary.”
For more information and updates about Viet Film Fest, please visit our website at vietfilmfest.com or follow us on social media @vietfilmfest.
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About VAALA
Founded in 1991 by Vietnamese American journalists, artists and community members to fill a void and provide a space for artists to express themselves as a newly resettled immigrant community, the mission of the Vietnamese American Arts & Letters Association (VAALA) is to connect and enrich communities through Vietnamese arts and culture. Celebrating its 30th year of service, VAALA collaborates with diverse community partners to organize community-centered artistic cultural events, including art exhibitions, book signings, music recitals, plays and its annual Viet Film Fest and Gallery Beyond Walls programming. More information about VAALA on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.
About Viet Film Fest
Viet Film Fest was created in 2003 by the Vietnamese American Arts & Letters Association (VAALA), becoming its largest program. As the largest international diasporic Vietnamese film festival of its kind in the world, Viet Film Fest showcases the best creative work by and about Vietnamese people. Through the universal language of film, Viet Film Fest brings together multiple perspectives to expand the scope and horizons of Vietnamese cinema. For nearly two decades, the festival has attracted thousands of national and international attention for its stunning showcase of shorts and features submitted from all over the world. As the hub of the Vietnamese movie industry, the festival hosts networking opportunities with prominent directors, media experts, and producers.
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