HÀ NỘI — The Vietnamese feature film Đảo Của Dân Ngụ Cư (The Way Station), directed by established actress Phạm Hồng Ánh, was awarded the Certificate of Appreciation by United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) last Friday, for its contribution to the development of awareness over issues regarding young Vietnamese people.

The screening was organised by the Việt Nam Ministry of Home Affairs and displayed by UNFPA at French Culture Centre L’Espace to celebrate International Youth Day 2017.

Director Ánh, who received the certificate, expressed her joy, “On behalf of the cast and crew, I sincerely give my deepest gratitude to the Ministry of Home Affair’s Department of Youth Affairs, especially to Mr Vũ Đăng Minh, director of the department, and Mrs Astrid Bant, representative of UNFPA in Việt Nam for this extraordinary honour. I also would like to thank honoured visitors, international guests who are representatives of embassies in Việt Nam, and the young audience who have come and watched The Way Station, as well as discussed and expressed so much affection for it,” said Ánh.

She also emphasises that the discussions by young people in the seminar after watching the movie has highlighted some of the themes – only by knowing young people can we understand the challenges we see everyday; they have to confront troubles from the past, discrimination, cultural difference, and pressure, prejudice and expectation of their loved ones and society.

“Please do treasure and be supportive of the aspirations of young people, their pursuits of freedom and happiness. In the meantime, we also need to assist, give strength, believe and empower them so they have the opportunities to demonstrate their role in building a better, more liberal and happier society and country,” she added.

The movie has been selected to be presented at the Brisbane International Film Festival in Australia from August 17 to September 3. Representatives of the movie will attend the premiere on the evening of August 30 and three other premieres on August 31, September 1 and 2. — VNS