ĐÀ NẴNG — Young filmmakers from Singapore and Việt Nam won awards at Gặp Gỡ Mùa Thu 2016 (Autumn Meeting 2016), the cinema event held in Đà Nẵng between November 8-14.

In the Art-House Film Corner, Chris Yeo’s A Land Imagined beat four others to receive the Autumn Meeting Grand Prix and a cash prize of US$5,000. The film was selected by a three-member panel including Paolo Bertolin, curator for Venice Film Festival in South East Asia and Benjamin Illos, programmer for the Cannes’ Directors’ Fortnight. 

"A Land Imagined deserved to win the highest award at the Autumn Meeting. The story is very interesting and Yeo’s highly specific pitch convinced the juries," said Vietnamese Phan Nha Trang, who was the only Vietnamese contestant in the category. 

Trang’s Late Summer tells the story of a 60-year-old widow and her 50-year-old barber, both of whom work for an illegal border-crossing agency. In their last attempt to cross the border, they realise they are already on the other side of life.

This is the second year Trang attended the Autumn Meeting. She was awarded Short Film of The Future in 2014.

The Art-House Film Corner also showcased All That Remains of Japanese Yoshimasa Jimbo; Finding Home of Singaporean Nelson Yeo and Causeway of Malaysian Aw See Wee. 

In the Entertainment Film-World category, the script for Chung Cư Thất Thủ (Apartment Has Fallen), by Lê Lâm Viên and Lê Hoàng, won the Producers’ Choice award and a cash prize of $3,000.

"The cash prize is very useful for us. Now we have money for accommodation in HCM City at least for a while to finish a detailed script," filmmaker Viên said. 

Chung Cư Thất Thủ was inspired from their daily life in an old apartment in HCM City. There are many people at different social classes living at the apartment, where it seems to be very busy from day to night. But the apartment has only entrance-way, and intrigue ensues.

"At the beginning, we just talked to each other for fun. When we spoke to our colleagues, we found that we had definitely written a script," said Viên. 

Two scripts at the Entertainment Film-World, Con Heo Của Ngày Hôm Qua (Yesterday’s Pig) by Nguyễn Huỳnh Diệu Hiền and Papa by Nguyễn Thị Mỹ Trang won Special Mention from the judge.  

The Short Film of The Future award went to Chu Ánh Nguyệt and Tạ Minh Đức. Each of them receives $500. Actress Hoàng Thúy won Star Choice Award and a cash prize of $1,000. 

Winning smile: South Korean actress Moon Sori on the red carpet at Autumn Meeting’s closing gala. -- Photo organisation board

The Autumn Meeting is a non-profit cinema event that aims to assist young filmmakers. It aims to0 unify and develop Vietnamese cinema and to stimulate cinematic discourse with other countries in Southeast Asia and Asia-Pacific regions.

The three Autumn Meeting events so far in 2013, 2014, and 2015 have received support from the profession and interest from both Vietnamese and international artists.

Autumn Meeting 2016 saw participation from special guests such as Georges Goldenstein, Cannes Festival’s Manager of Cinefondation; internationally known South Korean actress Moon Sori; John Badalu, Programmer for Berlin Film Festival and Muge Demir, Programmer for Rotterdam Film Festival. 

"Autumn Meeting is a chance for producers seeking new faces. It is not easy for young filmmaker like us to meet and pitch about our project with producers. This chance is very precious for us," said Viên. — VNS