ĐÀ NẴNG --The best films were honoured at the closing ceremony of Đà Nẵng Asian Film Festival 2024 (DANAFF II), with a spotlight on Trấn Thành's film, Mai in the national film category and Culi Never Cries, honoured as the Best Asian Film.

Trần Chí Cường, Vice Chairman of Đà Nẵng City People's Committee and Head of the DANAFF II Organising Committee, said the city had a "vibrant and colourful" cinema week, with many film screenings, discussions and activities.

"This is the second time Đà Nẵng has successfully organised an international cinema event, creating the initial steps in building the city's cinema ecosystem and cultural industry."

The film crew of Culi Never Cries won the Grand Prize for Best Film in Asian film category. Photo courtesy of Anh Vũ/DANAFF

In the Asian Films Category, the film Culi Never Cries won the top award, Grand Prize for Best Film.

In February this year, the film won the Best First Feature Award at Berlin International Film Festival.

Representing the film crew, producer and screenwriter Nghiêm Quỳnh Trang said: "After travelling around the world, the film finally arrived in Việt Nam and was warmly received at DANAFF."

She also revealed that the film is about to release across cinemas nationwide in September, telling Việt Nam News that she hopes it will be well received by audiences.

Phạm Thiên Ân was voted the Best Asian Director with his work on Inside the Yellow Cocoon Shell.

Before coming to DANAFF II, the film won the Caméra d’Or Award, at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival, Best International Film at Pingyao Film Festival in 2023 and Best film at the Asian Film Festival in 2024.

The Best Screenplay Award of the Asian Film Category was awarded to All Ears by Liu Jiayin from China. The film has already won two awards for Best Actor and Best Director at the Shanghai International Film Festival.

Yuumi Kawai in the film A Girl Named Ann from Japan won the Best Leading Actress Award and Kang Ren Wu in the film Fly Me To The Moon from Hong Kong, China, received the Best Leading Actor Award.

Mai won three awards

Trấn Thành received the Best Director Award at the Vietnamese Films Category with Mai. The film also won Grand Prize for Best Film. Photo courtesy of Anh Vũ/DANAFF

Mai won Grand Prize for Best Film at the Vietnamese Films Category, and its director, Trấn Thành also received Best Director Award. The leading actress, Phương Anh Đào was also honoured.

Trấn Thành said that he is usually afraid to be judged alongside the same category as art-house films.

"How to balance art and audiences to sell more tickets is currently a difficult problem for filmmakers. I really want to find that balance of making a film with the quality of an art-house film, while also being approachable and accessible to a general audience," he said.

This year's Best Screenplay Award was empty, while actor Thái Hà won the Best Leading Actor Award with the film Con Nhót Mót Chồng (Nhót Must Marry).

The NETPAC Award for the Outstanding Vietnamese Film is decided and selected by the NETPAC Jury from the Vietnamese Film Contests awarded to the film Lật mặt 7: Một điều ước (Face Off 7: One Wish).

The Audience’s Choice Award for Favourite Vietnamese Film voted by the audience participating in the screenings of 'Today’s Vietnamese Cinema' programme was for animation series Cá chép của ông Táo (The Kitchen God’s Carp), Đội lân sư nhí nhố (Mischievous Lion Dance Crew) and Độc lạ làng Khoai (Extraordinary Sweet Potato). -- VNS