The first season of the Project: Sci-Fi Film Challenge in Vietnam concluded at an award ceremony held in Ho Chi Minh City on Jan. 4 in which many local filmmakers, including amateurs, were honored.

According to some experts, the contest raises hope that young local filmmakers are able to make sci-fi blockbusters in the future because they are becoming more proficient in making special effects and experimenting more with ideas and scripts.

Ross Stewart, the producer of Ho Chi Minh City-based Cloud 9 Production who created Project: Sci-Fi, said they have seen the talent, the writers, the actors, the directors, and even the special effect artists from these films. He hopes the first full-length sci-fi film will be made in Vietnam.

“Before, not many people are brave enough to make sci-fi movies in Vietnam. And now there are over 60 short films, some of which I hope will be developed into larger projects in the future” – Ross said.

“What we hope to see in the future is that more young filmmakers will decide to write, direct and shoot more sci-fi films here in Vietnam,” he added.

Meanwhile, cameraman Nguyen Trinh Hoan, director of HK Film which is co-organizer of the Sci-Fi project, said all 60 films in the competition have their own stories to tell.

14 major awards were selected by the jury including two local famous directors Nguyen Quang Dung and Bui Thac Chuyen, and Sci-Fi Film and TV producer Andrew Cosby from the US.

Among 15 teams nominated, team “Wendigo” took out 6 of the 14 top awards including Best Film, Best Director (Thibaud Talliant), Best Actor (VN Rapper – Wowy Nguyen) and also Best Writing, Editing and Special Effects. Other honorable winners included Neo Productions being awarded 2nd Best Film and Best Cinematography and also aspiring Actress Huyen Ton Nu Nhat Ha from Lee Film.

Particularly, team FTU2 Films, all of the members are amateurs, won the 3rd Best Film with “A.I (Artificial Imagination)” which is adapted from a short story “The Last Night of The World” by Ray Bradbury.

“We are very surprised by this award. The time for making this film was tight so we just tried our best not to quit. It is a big encouragement” – Nguyen Thanh Luan, who directed A.I, said.   

The 21-year-old man told Tuoi Tre that his team plans to set up a celluloid film production house in the next five years.

14 top awards: