Vietnamese movie wins grand prize at film fest in Philippines

Cuoc Doi Cua Yen’ (Yen’s Life), a Vietnamese film by director Dinh Tuan Vu, has won the grand prize at the ninth World Premieres Film Festival of the Philippines, which is being held in Manila.

The cast and producers of ‘Yen’s Life’ at the awards ceremony
The cast and producers of ‘Yen’s Life’ at the awards ceremony

The 107-minute film, which chronicles the life of Yen, who had an arranged marriage at the age of ten, beat out four other nominations from France, Spain, Malaysia and Philippines to earn the top title.

The film was screened at a gala night on June 30 and made an impression on the international audience, according to director Dinh Tuan Vu.

As his first time attending an international film fest as an entrant, Tuan said that the event provided him with a good opportunity to learn from international colleagues.

The film has bagged many domestic prizes, including the Silver Lotus Prize for feature film, the Best Leading Actress and the Best Cameraman at 19th Vietnam Film Festival. It also helped Dinh Tuan Vu earn the Best Director title at the 2016 Golden Kite Awards.

The World Premieres Film Festival is hosted by the Film Development Council of the Philippines to celebrate new films that have yet to be screened elsewhere, as well as upcoming directors from across the globe. The participating films are required to feature human narratives, cultural diversity, and social issues.

Taking place from June 29 to July 11, this year’s event draws entries from 60 countries around the world.