Curation of Films
Our curatorial committee consists of community activists, filmmakers, academics, youth organizers, and community members who try to select a very diverse program to reflect the range of Vietnamese voices and stories. Thank you this year to our 2019 Curatorial Committee!
- Linda Trinh Vo
- Eric Nong
- Phan Gia Nhat Linh
Screening Committee Awards
Our esteemed Festival Judging Panel consists of diverse leaders and stars in the filmmaking world.
- Tony Bùi
- Hàm Trần
- Đỗ Thị Hải Yến
The Judging Panel will select the following awards to be given out during the festival:
Grand Jury Trống Đồng Award for Best Feature
Song Lang directed by Leon Le
The best feature film is chosen based on several criteria including: production value, artistic merits, storyline, and community relevance.
See Nominations VideoGrand Jury Trống Đồng Award for Best Short
Walk Run Cha Cha directed by Laura Nix
The best short film is chosen based on several criteria including: production value, artistic merits, storyline, and community relevance.
See Nominations VideoBest Actor
Lien Binh Phat in Song Lang
Honors an actor for his outstanding performance in either a short or feature film.
See Nominations VideoBest Actress
Kim Xuan in Like An Old House
Honors an actress for her outstanding performance in either a short or feature film.
See Nominations VideoSpotlight Award
Seadrift directed by Tim Tsai
The Spotlight Award is given to a film that either highlights an important issue or burgeoning filmmaker.
Audience Choice Awards
The audience rates each film on a scale of 1 (worst) to 5 (best). The scores are averaged and awarded on the last day of the festival:
Audience Choice for Best Feature
My Mr. Wife directed by Charlie Nguyen and Song Lang directed by Leon Le
Audience Choice for Best Short
Journey of Wanderers directed by Huynh Anh Duy
Volunteer Award
The Trần Tường Huy Volunteer Appreciation Award was founded in 2018 to acknowledge the inspiring service, enthusiasm, and dedication of an exceptional VAALA volunteer at our annual Viet Film Fest. This award is named in honor of a longtime volunteer who embodied the spirit of community, positive energy, and kindness: Trần Tường Huy (1969-2018). Huy developed his inspiration for community service as an undergraduate at UC Irvine (class of 1993) where he became involved with a variety of organizations and projects that brought greater visibility and voice to Vietnamese Americans. Huy became actively involved with VAALA from the very first Vietnamese International Film Festival (ViFF) in 2003 and served on committees such as screening and publicity/community outreach. Throughout the years, Huy continued to support VAALA in significant ways, most notably as a beloved emcee at many of our events. He contributed his remarkable talent as a skillful interpreter, making our programs accessible and creating a sense of belonging for multiple generations of diverse participants. This award will continue to honor Huy’s memory and promote the spirit of giving and inclusive volunteerism. Without our community of passionate, skilled, and dedicated volunteers, we would not be able to produce our annual film festival and year-round arts programming. VAALA volunteers form lifelong friendships and exemplify our values of community cultural connection, collaboration, and compassion.
Trần Tường Huy Volunteer Appreciation Award
Bao-Ngoc Tran (Box Office Manager)
Acknowledges the inspiring service, enthusiasm, and dedication of an exceptional volunteer
Past Award Recipients
- Grand Jury Trống Đồng Award: The Island by Tuan Andrew Nguyen
- Spotlight Award: Summer in Closed Eyes (Nhắm Mắt Thấy Mùa Hè) by Cao Thuy Nhi
- Best Short Film: Apples and Oranges by Duc Ngo Ngoc
- Best Actress: Thien Nguyen for her performance in Actress Wanted
- Best Actor: Long Nguyen for his performance in Actress Wanted and Pham Anh Khoa in The Island
- Audience Choice for Best Feature Film: Kiss and Spell (Yêu Đi Đừng Sợ) by Stephane Gauger
- Audience Choice for Best Short Film: Spring Leaves (Feuilles de Printemps) by Stephane Ly-Cuong and Nguyening: The Lee Nguyen Story by Alfonso Bui
- Trần Tường Huy Volunteer Appreciation Award: Nhieu Do (Technical Committee)
- Grand Jury Trống Đồng Award: Yellow Flowers on the Green Grass (Tôi Thấy Hoa Vàng Trên Cỏ Xanh) by Victor Vũ
- Spotlight Award: Finding Phong by Tran Phuong Thao and Swann Dubus
- Best Short Film: My Home (Chez Moi) by Mai Phuong Nguyen
- Best Actress: Miu Lê for her performance in Sweet Twenty (Em Là Bà Nội Của Anh)
- Best Actor: Tâm Dinh for his performance in Never Forget
- Audience Choice for Best Feature Film: Finding Phong by Tran Phuong Thao and Swann Dubus
- Audience Choice for Best Short Film: Honoring Life: The Work of Trinh Mai by David Fokos
- Grand-Jury Trống Đồng Award for Best Feature: Flapping in the Middle of Nowhere (Đập Cánh Giữa Không Trung) directed by Nguyễn Hoàng Điệp
- Grand-Jury Trống Đồng Award for Best Short: Talking to My Mother directed by Leon Le
- Spotlight: Land of Sorrow (Đất Khổ) directed by Hà Thúc Cần
- Best Actress: Nguyễn Thanh Tú for her performance in Gentle (Dịu Dàng)
- Best Actor: Thanh Duy for his performance in Flapping in the Middle of Nowhere (Đập Cánh Giữa Không Trung)
- Audience Choice (Feature): Can directed by Pearl J. Park
- Audience Choice (Short): Master Hoa’s Requiem directed by Scott Edwards
- Grand-Jury Trống Đồng Award for Best Feature: Funny Money (Tiền Chùa) directed by Thiện Đỗ
- Grand-Jury Trống Đồng Award for Best Short: Burn to Send (Đốt Về Trời) directed by Andinh Ha
- Spotlight: Number 10 Blues / Goodbye Saigon directed by Norio Osada
- Best Actress: Ninh Dương Lan Ngọc for her performance in Thuy
- Best Actor: Khương Ngọc for his performance in Funny Money (Tiền Chùa)
- Audience Choice (Feature): Công Binh – The Lost Fighters of Vietnam (Công Binh, la longue indochinoise nuit) directed by Lam Lê
- Audience Choice (Short): Hanoi Fly Boy by Viet Phuong Dao
- Inspiration Award: Tran Anh Hung
- Grand-Jury Trống Đồng Award for Best Feature: War Witch (Rebelle), directed by Kim Nguyen
- Grand-Jury Trống Đồng Award for Best Short: Picture. Perfect by Winston Titus Tao
- Spotlight: Stateless by Duc Nguyen and A Tree Worker’s Case by Daniela Agostin
- Best Actress: Ngô Thanh Vân for her performance in House in the Alley (Ngôi Nhà Trong Hẻm)
- Best Actor: Thái Hòa for his performance in In the Name of Love (Lấy Chồng Người Ta)
- Best Cinematography:Nguyễn K’ Linh for Blood Letter (Bức Huyết Thư)
- Audience Choice (Feature): Mr. Cao Goes To Washington directed by S. Leo Chiang
- Audience Choice (Short): Stateless directed by Duc Nguyen
- Grand-Jury Trống Đồng Award for Best Feature: Bi, Don’t Be Afraid (Bi, Đừng Sợ!) directed by Phan Đăng Di
- Grand-Jury Trống Đồng Award for Best Short: Behind Death (Phía Sau Cái Chết) directed by Tạ Nguyên Hiệp
- Spotlight: Mother Fish directed by Khoa Đỗ
- Best Actress: Đỗ Thị Hải Yến in Floating Lives (Cánh Đồng Bất Tận)
- Best Actor: Dustin Nguyen in Floating Lives (Cánh Đồng Bất Tận)
- Audience Choice (Feature): Touch directed by Minh Duc Nguyen
- Audience Choice (Short): Fading Light by Thiện Đỗ and Things You Don’t Joke About by Viet Nguyen
- Grand-Jury Trống Đồng Award for Best Feature: Footy Legends by Khoa Đỗ
- Grand-Jury Trống Đồng Award for Best Short: A Summer Rain by Ela Thier
- Spotlight: Dustin Nguyen
- Audience Choice (Feature): Operation Babylift: The Lost Children of Vietnam by Tammy Nguyen Lee
- Audience Choice (Short): Delivery Day by Jane Manning
- Grand-Jury Trống Đồng Award for Best Feature: Journey from the Fall (Vượt Sóng) directed by Ham Tran
- Best Short: Windowbreaker directed by Tze Chun
- Spotlight: Screenwriter Nguyễn Thị Minh Ngọc for her script of Living in Fear (Sống Trong Sợ Hãi)
- Audience Choice (Feature): The Rebel (Dòng Máu Anh Hùng) directed by Charlie Nguyen
- Audience Choice (Short): Going Home directed by Hung P. Nguyen
- Grand-Jury Trống Đồng Award for Best Short: Afternoon (Buổi Chiều) by Kim Spurlock
- Spotlight: Long Nguyễn for his performances in First Morning and Green Dragon
- Audience Choice (Short): Tiger’s Apprentice by M. Trinh Nguyễn
- Lifetime Achievement Award: Kiều Chinh
- Spotlight: First Morning by Victor Vũ
- Audience Choice (Short): The Anniversary (Ngày Giỗ) by Hàm Trần and Passage of Life (Đường Trần) by Lưu Huỳnh
