Directors Tran Anh Hung and Pham Thien An shine at 2023 Cannes Film Festival

Vietnamese-born French director Tran Anh Hung was named Best Director for his film ‘La passion de Dodin Bouffant’ (The Pot-au-Feu) while Vietnamese director Pham Thien An won the Caméra d'Or (Golden Camera) award for his film ‘Ben Trong Vo Ken Vang’ (Inside the Yellow Cocoon Shell) at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival, which wrapped up on May 27 in France.
 Tran Anh Hung was named Best Director at 2023 Cannes Film Festival (Photo: 2023 Cannes Film Festival)
Tran Anh Hung was named Best Director at 2023 Cannes Film Festival (Photo: 2023 Cannes Film Festival)

‘The Pot-au-Feu’ was adapted from French author Marcel Rouff’s 1924 novel ‘La Vie et la passion de Dodin-Bouffant gourmet’ (The Passionate Epicure).

Set in 1885, the film depicts a romance between a chef named Eugénie (Juliette Binoche) and the gourmet named Dodin (Benoît Magimel), who have worked together for 20 years.

Previously, on May 26, Tran Anh Hung received a seven-minute standing ovation after the film premiered at Cannes.

Born in 1962 in Da Nang, Tran Anh Hung has affirmed his reputation in European and international cinema. He has established himself as the Vietnamese-born film director to win the most international awards so far.

Pham Thien An receives Caméra d'Or award at 2023 Cannes Film Festival (Photo: 2023 Cannes Film Festival)

Pham Thien An receives Caméra d'Or award at 2023 Cannes Film Festival (Photo: 2023 Cannes Film Festival)

Meanwhile, ‘Inside the Yellow Cocoon Shell’ is director Pham Thien An's debut feature, which he has been working on since 2020. The feature originates from An’s previous short film entitled ‘Hay Thuc Tinh Va San Sang’ (Stay Awake, Be Ready), which was presented with the top prize of the Directors’ Fortnight section in Cannes 2019.

‘Inside the Yellow Cocoon Shell’ is a psychological adventure, revolving around a man trying to bring his sister-in-law’s dead body back to their hometown before he attempts to find his long-lost brother.

It was among list of 19 movies premiering in the Directors’ Fortnight section at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival.

Director Pham Thien An was born in Lam Dong province in 1989. He has bagged a number of awards, including the 48 Hours Film Project in Ho Chi Minh City and top prize at the CJ Short Film Making Project, one of the top short film contests in Vietnam.

In 2019, his short movie ‘Cam Lang’ (The Mute) premiered at Palm Spring Short Movies Festival and was selected to compete at nearly 15 international film festivals around the world.

NDO