HÀ NỘI - Vietnamese Phạm Ngọc Lân won the best first feature prize at the Berlinale Film Festival on Saturday. 

The feature entitled Cu Li Không Bao Giờ Khóc (Cu Li Never Cries) tells the story of a woman who returns to Việt Nam from Germany with the ashes of her estranged husband. 

The film is directed by Phạm Ngọc Lân, who wrote the screenplay with Nghiêm Quỳnh Trang. The cast includes Minh Châu, Hà Phương, Xuân An, Hoàng Hà and Cao Sang.

Born and raised in Hà Nội, after studying urban planning at Hà Nội Architectural University, Lân taught himself filmmaking. His short films have already been presented twice at the Berlinale, Another City in 2016 and Blessed Land in 2019. Cu Li Không Bao Giờ Khóc is his debut feature film.

Since 2006, when it introduced the GWFF Best First Feature Award, the Berlinale has been even more committed to supporting the next generation of filmmakers.

The award is endowed with 50,000 euros, donated by the GWFF (Gesellschaft zur Wahrnehmung von Film- und Fernsehrechten), a society dedicated to safeguarding film and television rights.

The prize money is to be split between the producer and the director of the winning film. Additionally, the director will be awarded with a high-quality viewfinder as both a useful instrument and memorable trophy.

In 2024, 16 directorial feature film debuts from the sections Competition, Encounters, Panorama, Forum and Generation, were nominated. - VNS