Unlike the more entertainment-oriented films made by private companies, Pao's Story features a theme that may not have as wide an appeal as the others.

Pao's Story depicts the lives of remote ethnic Mong villagers and a young girl named Pao, played by renowned actress Hai Yen, who was featured in the international hit The Quiet American, directed by Australian Philip Noyce.

Two cameramen, Australian Coordelia Beresford and Vietnamese Tran Hung, took the best cameraman award for their beautiful depiction of the mountainous landscape in Pao's Story.

Director Bui Thac Chuyen won the Gold Kite award for best director for his film Song Trong So Hai (Living in Fear).

Living in Fear charmed the jury board with its truthfulness and heart-wrenching scenes. Released by Feature Film Studio 1, Living in Fear is based on the documentary film Tay Dao Min (Land Mine Digger), which Chuyen made several years ago.

Living in Fear also earned Chuyen and his co-writer Nguyen Thi Minh Ngoc the award for best script.

Actor Nguyen Huu Phuc, who played the main character Tai in Living in Fear, was chosen as best actor.

The movie also won the first-ever journalist prize funded by The Gioi Dien Anh magazine (Cinema World) and the Swedish Culture Fund.

For the television film category, director Ngyen Quoc Trong's Mot Lan Di Bui (Running Away from Home), produced by Viet Nam Television, won the Golden Kite for best television film. The film also won the Golden Medal at the annual national television festival in January. The best director for a television film went to young Do Duc Thanh for Bay Ngay va Mot Doi (Seven Days and One Life).

Duoi Co Dai Nghia (Under the Banner of Justice) from HCM Television won the award for best long series while Nguyen Quang from Ha Noi Television took the best director prize.

In the documentary section, Con Lai Voi Thoi Gian (With the Passage of Time) earned the awards for best documentary film and best director, Le Hong Chuong from Central Documentary Science Film Studio.

The best science documentary film went to Su Song O Rung Cuc Phuong (Life in Cuc Phuong Forest) made by director Nguyen Van Huong, also from the Central Documentary Science Film Studio.