Young director Ha Le Diem appointed as a judge for Asia Pacific Film Festival in Da Nang

LHP DANAFF II recently held a press conference on June 6 in Hanoi. The Organizing Committee announced the list of Jury Members for the most important categories.

For the Asian Film category, the Chairman of the Jury is the renowned French-Vietnamese director and writer Doi Tu Kiet. The Jury Members include former Director of the CineFondation of the Cannes Film Festival, Georges Goldenstern (France), Director of the Berlin International Film Festival (2019-2024) Meriette Rissenbeek (Germany), actress Tran Nu Yen Khe, and young director Ha Le Diem.

Young director Ha Le Diem (Photo: Toan Vu).

In the Vietnamese Film category, chaired by Hong Kong director Quan Cam Bang, the Jury Members include producer Tran Thi Bich Ngoc, veteran actress Le Khanh, director Leon Quang Le, and coordinator and Director of the Asian Film Alliance Network, Lorna Tee.

In this list, Ha Le Diem is a notable and surprising inclusion.

When asked about the selection of the young director as a jury member this year, TS. Ngo Phuong Lan, President of the Vietnam Film Development Promotion Association and Director of LHP DANAFF, explained that it was the Organizing Committee's intention to include the voice of young Vietnamese filmmakers along with renowned film experts from around the world. Ms. Phuong Lan affirmed that director Ha Le Diem has the competence and expertise to participate in judging the most important category of the event.

TS. Ngo Phuong Lan - President of the Vietnam Film Development Promotion Association and Director of LHP DANAFF - speaking at the press conference (Photo: DT)

During an interview, the young director shared with Dan Tri reporters that she feels pressure working with prominent international film experts and faces the challenge of a lengthy list of competing films despite having attended many different film festivals over the past two years and having had the opportunity to meet various producers, directors, and see numerous international films.

Regarding the judging criteria, Ha Le Diem mentioned adhering to the general rules of the jury, evaluating aspects such as screenplay, cinematography, directorial concept, and acting performances.

Ha Le Diem was born in 1991 in Bac Kan, Vietnam. She graduated in Journalism from the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Hanoi National University, studied documentary filmmaking at the Talent Development Support Center, and participated in the Varan Vietnam documentary filmmaking program.

Her project "Children in the Mist" received the Best Asian Film award at LHP DANAFF I, showcasing her talent and potential in the film industry.

For LHP DANAFF II, the Organizing Committee revealed that this year, there are 63 films competing across various categories, an increase of 17 films compared to the previous year. However, TS. Ngo Phuong Lan emphasized that what matters is the quality of the films participating in DANAFF II, which has left the Organizing Committee quite satisfied.

The film "Mai" by Tran Thanh (Photo: Film crew)

Competing against "Lat Mat 7: One Wish" by Ly Hai in the Vietnamese Film category at LHP DANAFF II (Photo: Film crew)

Specifically, the Asian Film category features 13 films, including two Vietnamese projects, "Inside the Dragon's Skin" by Pham Thien An and "Never Cries Cu Li" by Pham Ngoc Lan. "Never Cries Cu Li" won the Best Debut Feature Film award at the 2024 Berlin International Film Festival, while "Inside the Dragon's Skin" by Pham Thien An received the Golden Camera award at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival.

The two Vietnamese representatives will compete against entries from Iran, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Australia, the Philippines, China, Indonesia, and India.

As for the Vietnamese Film category, it includes films that have been box office hits in the past year such as "Mai" by Tran Thanh, "Lat Mat 7: One Wish" by Ly Hai, and "Peach, Pho, and Piano" by Phi Tien Son.

TS. Ngo Phuong Lan explained that convincing high-grossing films to participate in film festivals is not an easy task. This marks the first time in six installments that Ly Hai accepts an invitation to showcase his film. Previously, director Ly Hai had always declined such invitations. The film "Mai" is also entering a film festival for the first time among numerous options due to the multitude of film festivals held each year.

"For films that are beloved by the audience, filmmakers are often hesitant to participate in film festivals because if they don't win an award, they fear that audiences may stop watching their films the following year.

However, DANAFF II has managed to convince them, even if winning is not guaranteed. Looking at the list of films competing at DANAFF II, we can see the current landscape of Vietnamese cinema," TS. Ngo Phuong Lan expressed.

In addition to film screenings, LHP DANAFF II will feature various special events and activities such as the "Vietnamese Cinema Today" program, the "Spotlight on French Cinema" program, and the selection of films by director and veteran artist Dang Nhat Minh.

There will be workshops and discussions: Director Dang Nhat Minh's creative style, French cinema and its relationship with Vietnamese cinema, film production collaboration - international experiences and development solutions, and sharing experiences in connecting coastal film festivals.

LHP DANAFF II will take place from July 2-6 in Da Nang City. The opening ceremony (on the evening of July 2) and the closing ceremony - award ceremony (on the evening of July 6) will be broadcast live on Vietnam Television, Da Nang Television, National Assembly Television, provincial, and municipal television channels nationwide, and digital streaming platforms.