Unexpectedly, films that attracted the greatest attention of many audiences and were highly appreciated by the experts won convincingly.
In 2019, the country’s cinema faced and solved many difficulties, especially in capital mobilisation, production and constant improvement of cinematic quality. In addition, due to the Covid-19 epidemic, the appraisal of submissions to the Golden Kite Awards 2019 was also interrupted. During the social distancing period, cinemas were temporarily closed, so the jury for the feature film category could only see all entries in early May and many communication activities were delayed or cancelled. Overcoming these obstacles, the positive development of local cinema has been recognised by the Golden Kite Awards
The awards’ organising board received 113 cinematographic submissions from over 40 film production facilities, including 16 feature films, 13 TV series, 46 documentary and scientific films, 15 cartoons, 17 short films and six theoretical studies. “Hanh phuc cua me” (The Happiness of a Mother) by director Pham Huynh Dong won the Golden Kite Award 2019 in the feature category. Awards were also presented to the TV series “Ve nha di con” (Come Home, My Dear) by Nguyen Danh Dung; to the cartoon “Con chim go” (Wooden Bird) by Tran Khanh Duyen; the documentary “Chu Tan Kra” by Vu Minh Phuong; the scientific films “The fight against SARS” by Luu Ngoc Anh and “The incinerator of domestic waste” by Nguyen Le Van and Nguyen Hong Viet. The VCA handed out prizes to the best individuals, including screenwriters, directors, cameramen, actors and actresses.
Notably, many Golden Kite Awards winning works had gained many high prizes at the 21st Vietnam Film Festival in late 2019, such as the documentary and scientific films “Chu Tan Kra” and “The fight against SARS” which took the Silver Lotus Awards.
In term of the feature film category, the Vietnam Television Film Centre (VFC) achieved a great victory, pocketing the most important prizes. Beside the Golden Kite Awards, the film “Ve nha di con” created a good impression when it was put on the air as well as having won many other prestigious awards. Many members of the film crew were honoured at the awards ceremony, including director and Meritorious Nguyen Danh Dung (the best director) and Bao Han (promising actress). The Silver Kite Award also went to “Hoa hong tren nguc trai” (A rose on the left chest) by director Vu Truong Khoa, another film produced by the VFC. The film’s actor and actress Ngoc Quynh and Hong Diem were named best main actor and actress, respectively. On the occasion, VFC movie “Nhung ngay khong quen” (Unforgettable days) received the VCA’s certificate of merit for its contributions to Covid-19 prevention and control communications.
The Golden Kite Award winning film “The Happiness of a Mother” was hailed by the experts. In addition to the highest evaluation, the artwork was honoured along with many individual awards, including the best feature film director (Pham Huynh Dong), screenwriter (Nguyen Thi Ngoc Bich), cameraman (Vo Thanh Tien), sound effect (Vu Thanh Long), main actress (Cat Phuong) and promising actor (Huy Khang). The film praised sacred motherhood as its story revolved a mother overcoming all challenges and complexities to accompany her autistic child towards the future.
Chairman of the VCA, People’s Artist Dang Xuan Hai, said that the submissions to the Golden Kite Awards were diverse in both topic and creation method, creating a colorful picture of local cinema. Several outstanding issues, which were pointed out at the Golden Kite Awards 2018 such as the lack of films recalling the nation’s revolution, embracing the breadth of lif international integration and reflecting pressing social issues, have been somewhat remedied.
However, in general, the Golden Kite Awards 2019 still witnessed very few works that deeply highlighted the great achievements across this period of innovation and integration. This deficiency has inspired many thoughts on the relevant agencies’ management and investment in cinematographic creation. In order to continue its journey and contribute to the country’s development, the cinema industry in general and cinematographic and television workers should constantly renew their awareness, thinking and creation in an enthusiastic and professional manner. Accordingly, they should further explore and promote the beauty of the land and people of Vietnam in a new era as well as closely follow the cultural values of the nation, contributing to affirming the position of an attractive arts industry towards serving the public through noble human values.
