What flowers?: A scene from the 19th Golden Lotus winner for best movie, Toi Thay Hoa Vang Tren Co Xanh (Yellow Flowers on the Green Grass), directed by Vietnamese-American Victor Vu. — VNS Photo

HCMCITY (VNS) — Toi Thay Hoa Vang Tren Co Xanh (Yellow Flowers on the Green Grass) won the Golden Lotus Award for best feature film at the biennial 19th Viet Nam Film Festival organised by the Ministry of Culture on Saturday night.

The movie's Vietnamese-American director Victor Vulso scooped up the prize for best director.

Based on the novel by best-selling author Nguyen Nhat nh, the film is set in the mid-1980s in a small village, telling the story of two young brothers who share everything, but compete for the affection of the same girl.

Its sound and visual effects left a strong impression on the jury and audiences.

"Toi Thay Hoa Vang Tren Co Xanh features the beauty of Vietnamese landscape, people and culture," said Vu, who shared the awards with his filming staff.

The movie also won the best film award at the Silk Road International Film Festival in Fujian Province, China.

Commissioned by the State and produced by the HCM City-based Galaxy Studio, the VND20 billion (US$899,000) work earned around VND80 billion (3.59 million) in ticket sales. It will be distributed abroad by Fortissimo Films Hong Kong.

Nhung Dua Con Cua Lang (Children of the Village) recieved prizes for best actor and actress Chung Anh and Do Thuy Hang, and supporting actress Huy Cuong.

Directed by Nguyen Duc Viet, the film is a post-war story about a village in the centre of Viet Nam. It was commissioned by the State and produced by Hong Ngat Film.

The Golden Lotus Award for best documentary went to veteran female director L Phong Lan's four-episode Dinh Cao Chien Thang (Peak of Victory). The 120-minute film, produced by Ban Sac Viet Film Studio, depicts Viet Nam's war with America from 1954-1972

The Viet Nam Animation Studio's Cau Be Co Lau (The Boy and Reed Grass), based on 10th century national hero Dinh Bo Linh, won Golden Lotus Award for best animation film, while its director Phung Van Ha was named the best animation director.

The 19th Golden Lotus awards attracted 26 feature and video films, 33 documentaries, 23 animations and ten scientific films, produced by more than 40 State-owned and private studios and companies across the country.

The jury consisted of skilled directors and scripwriters such as Meritorious Artist Tat Binh, Le Cung Bac and Vu Xuan Hung, and author Nguyen Dong Thuc.

It also featured a new face, 25-year-old actress Nguyen Ngoc ThuyTrang of HCM City, who won the award for Best Actress at the 18th Viet Nam Film Festival.

Twenty feature films nominated for Golden Lotus awards had been screened for free at Galaxy, Star Cineplex, Mega GS and CGV cinemas during the festival. The screenings attracted several thousands of people.

The five-day event also included two seminars on film making and marketing, with the participatiion of dozens of Vietnamese and foreign filmmmakers. — VNS