Vietnamese producer wins award at 37th Singapore International Film Festival
VOV.VN - The feature film project "Dear Son An" by director Bui Kim Quy has won the SGIFF Pro Pitching Forum Award at the 37th Singapore International Film Festival (SGIFF).
The award was presented under Pitching Forum Session C - Asian Producers Network (APN+ Track). Producer Ha Le Diem represented the project at the event and received the prize. The forum serves as a platform for filmmakers to present projects in development, seek partners, and explore international co-production opportunities.
"Dear Son An" centers on a terminally ill mother with cancer who quietly prepares for her passing, while her nine-year-old son clings to faith and an imaginary world as he faces the fear of losing his mother and the prospect of being adopted. Before their separation, the mother and son must learn how to love each other without holding on to one another.
This marks Bui Kim Quy's third feature film project as writer and director. Her debut feature, "The Inseminator," premiered at the Busan International Film Festival in 2014 and was later screened at the Locarno and Rotterdam film festivals. Her second work, "Memoryland," was selected for the 72nd Berlin International Film Festival and won the Golden Lady Harimaguada at the Las Palmas de Gran Canaria International Film Festival in 2022.
Ha Le Diem, an ethnic Tay director, producer, and cinematographer, gained international recognition for her documentary "Children of the Mist," which depicts a Hmong girl in northern Vietnam navigating the transition from childhood to adulthood.
The documentary premiered at the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA) in 2021, earning Ha Le Diem the Best Director award. It subsequently reached the 15-film shortlist for Best Documentary Feature at the 95th Academy Awards, enjoying theatrical release in Vietnam and international distribution across North America, Europe, and Asia.
At the 23rd Vietnam Film Festival, "Children of the Mist" won two Golden Lotus awards for Best Documentary Film and Best Documentary Director.
Serving as producer for "Dear Son An," Ha Le Diem's recognition in Singapore marks a milestone in the project's development and creates further opportunities to connect with international production partners.
Established in 1987, the Singapore International Film Festival is among the longest-running film events in Southeast Asia. Alongside film screenings, the festival organizes project development programs to connect filmmakers and producers with international partners.
The SGIFF Pro Pitching Forum specifically targets cinema projects in pre-production, meaning the award for "Dear Son An" recognizes a project in development rather than a completed film.
Two Vietnamese short films vie at Singapore International Film Festival 2026
VOV.VN - Two Vietnamese short films, "Blue days" directed by Vu Trung Duc and "Through the cracks" directed by Le Hoang, have been selected for the Southeast Asian Short Film category at the Singapore International Film Festival (SGIFF) 2026.
