Vietnamese films viewed in well-known US universities

First launched in 2009, the project aims to create a platform for young local filmmakers to connect and avail opportunities to make their own movies.

Three films ‘Khi Ta 20’ (When we are 20) by Nguyen Anh Thu; ‘Cho Toi Mot Ve Ve Tuoi Tho’ (Give Me a Ticket to Childhood) by Nguyen Minh Phuong; and ‘Nhoc Nhan Than’ (Difficult Lives of Miners) by Le My Cuong, were viewed in 13 prestigious universities in the US.

The 15-minute film ‘When we are 20’ looks at the lives of three 20-year-old girls. Even though they are the same age, they have different plans for the future. One girl wants to become a fashion model, another plans to study abroad and one plans to get married and have children. The film won the Golden Lotus Award in the documentary category in 2010.

The documentary film ‘Cho Toi Mot Ve Ve Tuoi Tho’ (Give Me a Ticket to Childhood), which describes the moving relationship between a brother, his sister and his parents, also won the Golden Lotus Award in the documentary category nominated by the audience this year.

The 10 minute documentary by Le My Cuong titled ‘Difficult Life of Miners’ portrays the real story of the lives of miners who come from various rural areas to work in sordid conditions in a mine, which won the Silver Lotus Award in 2010.

The Institute for Vietnamese Culture & Education, a New York-based non-profit organization to promote Vietnamese culture, will sponsor an exchange talk between the three filmmakers and American students and audiences, aimed to bring focus on the rich Vietnamese culture.