HÀ NỘI — A short film by young filmmaker Lê Bảo and producer Đồng Phương Thảo won Most Promising Project title at the 27th Singapore International Film Festival (SGIFF).

The festival was held from November 23 to December 4. 

The short film titled Vị (Taste) is about a Nigerian football player playing in the Vietnamese football league. After he breaks his leg, he is forced to leave the team and find work in a sex parlour to provide for his wife and son back home. 

"I made the short film as a demo to introduce to investors to seek a financial source," filmmaker Bảo said. "The demo will help people get to know how I plan to make a motion picture."

Bảo got the idea for the film two years ago based on his high-school memories. At that time, he would see black men on the bus while going to school. Bảo was obsessed by these men who seemed to have overcome some significant challenge. 

In Taste the actors are amateurs, including the call girls.

Born in HCM City, Bảo began his filmmaking career by borrowing an old camera from a friend to shoot his first short film. Last year, he also attended the 26th festival with Scent. 

"A short film is a ’cultural ambassador’ because it usually depicts the typical character of the people and the country where the film is based. Vietnamese filmmakers do it very well," Yuni Hadi, festival executive director, said. 

The festival captivates 12,000 audience members annually with over 100 films showcased from around the world. 

Through film screenings, post-show discussions, master classes and talks, one can discover universal themes and untold stories in the works of internationally acclaimed directors and Asia’s most promising filmmakers. 

Vietnamese-French director Trần Anh Hùng was among the guest filmmakers attending the master classes, who shared experiences, insights on how their careers began and love for films. 

Founded in 1987, SGIFF has become an iconic event in the Singapore arts calendar, known for its dynamic programming and focus on groundbreaking Asian cinema in Singapore and the region. — VNS