VAS Film Festival and Award Ceremony 2023 - 2024: A hub for young filmmakers

On May 4th, the VAS Film Festival and Award Ceremony 2024, part of the "Films Adapted from Literary Works" project for secondary school students, took place in an enthusiastic atmosphere at the Sala campus.

Director Victor Vu, Director Vo Thanh Hoa, and Director Ngo Quang Tri, who are the judges for this year's films, also showered praise on the impressive film works created by VAS students.

9 film project teams participating in VAS Film Festival 2024

The "Films Adapted from Literary Works" project is an annual competition hosted by VAS for students from grades 6 to 12. The aim is to immerse students in the heart of literary works, enhancing their grasp of the original narratives. This initiative nurtures cultural appreciation and contributes to the preservation of our country's vibrant cultural heritage. Furthermore, the competition serves as a creative platform for students to explore and exhibit their artistic talents in the realm of cinema, assuming roles like director, editor, actor, and film producer.

At the award ceremony honoring the 9 outstanding film works, we had the presence of Mr. Tran Tien Thanh from the Secondary Education Department of the HCMC Department of Education and Training, along with two judge members, Director Ngo Quang Tri and Director Vo Thanh Hoa.

Directors Vo Thanh Hoa (left) and Ngo Quang Tri (center) at the VAS Film Awards 2024 ceremony

Unable to attend the award ceremony, Judge and Director Victor Vu sent his compliments to the VAS students: "What I find truly remarkable when watching the films created by the young VAS students is the sense of passion I perceive from them. Meticulous preparation is evident not only in the screenplay but also in the production aspect. The scripts you have created are excellent, with meticulously calculated storylines, characters, and dialogues. The camera shots, angles, and movements used to tell the story through visuals have truly impressed me."

Actress Dinh Ngoc Diep, the wife of Director Victor Vu, also affirmed that the VAS students' works are akin to professional short films, surprising both her and Victor throughout the screening process.

Judge and Director Vo Thanh Hoa shared that initially, he did not have high expectations as he thought films made by students, especially those from grades 6-7, would surely have many flaws and limitations. However, when he officially evaluated the entries, he was pleasantly surprised and delighted by the passion and dedication displayed by these young talents. Vo Thanh Hoa humorously shared, "As a full-time filmmaker, I can confidently say that if you have enough passion, this industry can sustain you. I truly hope to meet these young participants from VAS Film again in the future, this time as my colleagues."

Judge and Director Ngo Quang Tri, participating as a judge for the first time in the VAS Film, mentioned that he had spent a lot of time reviewing the previous year's entries and noticed a remarkable improvement in the quality of this year's submissions.

We congratulate all the outstanding films and exceptional individual awards at the VAS Film Festival 2023-2024:

• First Prize: "Những đứa con trong gia đình" (The Children Within the Family) from RIVERSIDE

• Second Prize: 

• "Nhưng nó phải bằng hai mày" (But It Has to Be Equal Twice of You) from GARDEN HILLS

•  "Tuổi thơ tôi” (My Childhood) from BA THANG HAI

• Third Prize: 

• "Chuyện người con gái Nam Xương" (The Tale of the Nam Xuong Woman) from HOANG VAN THU

• "Chuyện người con gái Nam Xương" (The Tale of the Nam Xuong Woman) from SALA

• "Chiếc thuyền ngoài xa" (The Boat Beyond Far)  from SALA

• Encouragement Prize: 

• "Hạnh phúc một tang gia" from SALA

•  "Vừa nhắm mắt vừa mở cửa sổ" from SALA

• "Con muốn làm một cái cây" from SUNRISE 

And we'd like to congratulate all the outstanding individuals and groups: 

• Best Actress: Pham Mai Thuy Tien, grade 8.R.1, RIVERSIDE, for the role of the mature Chien in the film "Những đứa con trong gia đình"

• Best Actor: Nguyen Thien Quang, grade 10.G.1, GARDEN HILLS, for the role of "Khoai" in the film "Nhưng nó phải bằng hai mày"

• Best Supporting Actress: Nguyen Le Anh Thu, grade 10.L.3, SALA, for the role of Truong Sinh’s mother in the film "Chuyện người con gái Nam Xương"

• Best Supporting Actor: Nguyen Minh Quan, grade 10.L.2, SALA, for the role of the husband in the film "Chiếc thuyền ngoài xa”

• Best Director: Chu Do Ha My, grade 8.R.1, RIVERSIDE, for the film "Những đứa con trong gia đình"

• Best Cinematography: Nguyen Ngoc Linh Lam, grade 10.G.5, GARDEN HILLS, for the film "Nhưng nó phải hai mày"

• Best Makeup: The film crew of "Những đứa con trong gia đình" from RIVERSIDE

• Best Screenplay: Nguyen Hong Minh, grade 10.G.5, GARDEN HILLS, for the film "Nhưng nó phải bằng hai mày"

• Best Soundtrack: The film crew of "Tuổi thơ tôi" from BA THÁNG HAI

• Best Set Design: The film crew of "Nhưng nó phải hai mày" from GARDEN HILLS

The “Films Adapted From Literary Works” project is an annual competition organized by VAS for students from grades 6 to 12, aiming to bring the spirit of literary works closer to students and provide a creative space for them to experience and develop their talents in the seventh art through various roles: director, editor, actor, film producer, and more.

Once again, thank you and congratulations to all the students and teachers who participated in supporting the "Films Adapted from Literary Works'' project by VAS during the 2023-2024 academic year. We look forward to seeing the remarkable film works from VASers next year.

Let's take a look back at the impressive moments captured at the VAS Film Festival 2024: