Vietnamese International Film Festival

First started in 2003, the Vietnamese International Film Festival (also known as ViFF) is a biennial film festival organized by the non-profits Vietnamese-American Arts & Letters Association (VAALA) and UCLAs VietNamese Language and Culture (VNLC). ViFF takes place at the University of California, Irvine, the University of California, Los Angeles, and other locations in and near the Little Saigon area of Orange County, California.

Part film festival and part community-service event, to date ViFF is the only film festival reserved for filmmakers of Vietnamese heritage in the world outside of Vietnam.

VIFF 2003 and 2005

ViFF 2003 and ViFF 2005 showcased 45 and 38 films (both shorts and features), respectively, directed/produced by filmmakers of Vietnamese descent from the U.S., France, Canada, Australia, Germany, and Vietnam. As a result, many films by Vietnamese-heritage filmmakers, both new and previously released, have gathered here. Films by Academy Award nominated director Tran Anh Hung have been shown at ViFF. Notable premieres at ViFF include the world premiere of Victor Vu's First Morning (Buoi Sang Dau Nam), The Rebel, directed by Charlie Nguyen, and the North American premiere of Pham Nhue Giang's Deserted Valley (Thung Lung Hoang Vang).

VIFF 2007

In 2007, the eight-day festival took place from April 12 to April 15 and from April 19, to April 22. If featured record number of films: a total of 51, including 13 features submitted by filmmakers of Vietnamese descent from around the world. The festival opened with the world premiere of the martial arts drama film, The Rebel, directed by Charlie Nguyen and closed with the feature debut, Dust of Life, directed by Le Van Kiet. The Spotlight Program on April 14 showcased screenwriter Nguyen Thi Minh Ngoc, whose work is featured in Living in Fear, directed by Bui Thac Chuyen and Journey From the Fall, a film by Ham Tran.

VIFF 2009

In 2009, the festival was held on April 2–5 & 9-12, 2009 at UC Irvine.

VIFF 2011

In 2011, the 5th festival with Reel Momentum is the theme, was held on April 7 to 17, 2011 presented over 60 short and feature movies of 100 received .

The Awards presented at ViFF 2011 :

• Grand-jury Trống Đồng Award for best feature film: Bi, Don't be Afraid! (Bi, Đừng sợ !) - directed by Phan Dang Di
• Grand-jury Trống Đồng Award for best short film: Phía Sau Cái Chết (Behind Death), directed by Ta Nguyen Hiep
• Audience Choice Award for best feature film: Touch (directed by Minh Duc Nguyen)
• Audience Choice Award for best short film: Fading Light (Theo Hướng Đèn Mà Đi), directed by Thien Do; and Things You Don’t Joke About, directed by Viet Nguyen
• Spotlight Award : Mother Fish (directed by Khoa Đỗ)

References

• Chang, Richard (23 October 2003). "‘Something that needs to be done': The first Vietnamese International Film Festival gets under way tonight". OC Register. 
• "Best of OC 2004: Part 4". OC Weekly. October 22–28, 2004. http://www.ocweekly.com/ink/05/07/best-part4.php. 
• Cheng, Scarlet (8 April 2005). "Echoes of war, 30 years later". Los Angeles Times. 
• "Bảy giờ tối nay: Khai mạc Đại Hội Điện Ảnh Việt Nam Quốc Tế (ViFF)". Nguoi Viet. April 6, 2005. http://nguoi-viet.com/absolutenm/anmviewer.asp?a=21615&z=3. 
• "Đại Hội Điện Ảnh ViFF tiến đến tuần chót - Kết thúc với “Mùa Len Trâu”". Nguoi Viet. 15 April 2005. http://nguoi-viet.com/absolutenm/anmviewer.asp?a=22122&z=56. 
• Ðại Hội Ðiện Ảnh Việt Nam Quốc Tế, cái gạch nối hữu hiệu Người Việt 2005

External links

• Official site
• VIFF 2007 Trailer
• http://www.vietfilmfest.com/2009/ VIFF 2009