The Vietnamese film “Bi, Dung So!” (Bi, Don’t Be Afraid), directed by Phan Dang Di, won Best First Feature at the 22nd Stockholm International Film Festival in Sweden, according to local media.
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| A scene in the film Bi, Dung So! (Bi, Don’t be afraid), directed by Phan Dang Di, wins the Best First Feature at the 21st Stockholm International Film Festival |
The film about a Hanoi family through the eyes of a six-year-old had strong competition from My Joy (Russia), The Three (France-Australia) and If I Want To Whistle, I Whistle (Rumani).
“The director brings a different view on the insights and feelings of human beings through small details,” one film critic said.
The story tells of a six-years-old child, Bi, who lives with his parents, aunt and servant in a house in old Hanoi. The boy discovers the private stories, unknown miseries and
secrets of his family members.
The award in Stockholm follows best screenplay at this year’s Cannes film festival’s critic week in summer, a Special Mention at the Vancouver International Film Festival in Canada, and the New Talent Award at the Asia-Hong Kong Film Festival early this month.
It won the Asia Outstanding Project of the Pusan Promotion Plan at the Pusan International Film Festival in October 2007 and has been chosen to join the L’Atelier for independent film projects by Cinefoundation of the Cannes Fim Festival.
Born in 1976 in Nghe An Province, Phan Dang Di graduated from Hanoi University of Cinema and Theatre, to start his career as independent filmmaker. He had some success in 2006 with short film Sen (Lotus) screening at the Clermon Ferrand in France and Khi toi 20 (When I am 20) which was selected for Short film Competition - Venice Film Festival 2008.
Bi, Dung So! will go on the wide screen late this year or early next year.
