IDECAF Drama Theatre’s musical Tiên Nga (Fairy Tale), a 2018 production based on the 19th century Vietnamese epic poem Lục Vân Tiên by poet Nguyễn Đình Chiểu, receives a literature and art award in theatre category from the HCM City People’s Committee. — Photo courtesy of the producer

HCM CITY — The HCM City People’s Committee has granted awards to critically and publicly acclaimed literature and art works created from 2012 to 2018.

IDECAF Drama Theatre’s musical Tiên Nga (Fairy Tale), a 2018 production based on the 19th century Vietnamese epic poem Lục Vân Tiên by poet Nguyễn Đình Chiểu, received an award in the theatre category.

Thiên Mệnh Anh Hùng (Blood Letter), a 2012 co-production of Phương Nam Film and Saiga Films, won an award in the film category.

Directed by Vietnamese-American Victor Vũ, the sword-fighting film tells the tale of Nguyên Vũ, who was the only survivor after his family was massacred during the Nguyễn Dynasty. In the tale, he sets out on a journey of revenge to clear his family name.

The Dance School of HCM City received an award for its dance “Tổ Quốc” (The Motherland) in 2015, while veteran composer Trần Long Ẩn was awarded for his song Lời Bác Hồ Sáng Biển Đông (Uncle Hồ’s Words Light up the East Sea).

The late writer Lê Văn Thảo received an award in literature for his memoirs Ở R – Chuyện Kể Sau 50 Năm (In Resistance Zone – Stories Told after 50 Years) about his life during wartime, published in 2018 by the Văn Học – Dân Tộc Publishing House.

The city also gave awards in the categories of architecture, fine arts, and critism to architect Nguyễn Trường Lưu, scuptor Lê Lang Biên, painters Nguyễn Trọng Hoàn and Huỳnh Văn Mười, and photographer Trần Thế Phong.  

The literature and art awards were first given by the city in 2005.

This year, the organisers received 88 entries in the categories of literature, music, theatre, film, photography, fine arts, architecture and dance.

Lê Thanh Liêm, deputy chairman of the municipal People’s Committee, who spoke at the ceremony at the Opera House, said: “The awards honour the contributions of artists to the city’s literature and art. Their works left a deep impression on people. The city is continuing to support artists to promote their work among the public.” — VNS