Đặng Thái Huyền's 'Red Rain' Wins Top Honors at 24th Vietnam Film Festival

The 24th Vietnam Film Festival concluded on November 25, 2025, in Ho Chi Minh City, an event coinciding with the city's official designation as a UNESCO Creative City for Film. Operating under the theme 'Vietnamese Cinema - Sustainable Development and International Integration in a New Era,' the festival highlighted a significant year for national cinematic output. This high-profile event, following Ho Chi Minh City's induction into the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) as the first in Southeast Asia for film, signals a clear industry focus on professionalization and expanded international engagement.

The feature film "Red Rain," directed by Đặng Thái Huyền and produced by the People's Army Cinema, secured the highest distinction, the Golden Lotus Award for Feature Film. This historical epic, which depicts the 81-day defense of the Quang Tri Ancient Citadel, also claimed four other major individual accolades: Best Cinematography, Best Supporting Actor for Phước Nam, Best Art Design, and Best Film Sound. Director Đặng Thái Huyền dedicated the top prize to the nation's heroic martyrs while addressing the challenge of making historical narratives resonant for contemporary audiences.

"Red Rain's" critical recognition was preceded by its selection as Vietnam's official submission for the Best International Feature Film category at the 98th Academy Awards. Commercially, the film achieved substantial success, surpassing box office records with revenues exceeding 700 billion VND, equivalent to approximately 28.6 million USD, following its August release.

Organized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in partnership with the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee, the festival showcased a record 203 entries across all classifications. The Silver Lotus Awards recognized three other productions: "Subway: The Sun in the Dark" (Dia Dao – Mat troi trong bong toi), "Mid-air Battle" (Tu chien tren khong), and "Chị Dậu." The Jury Award was presented to "Mai," "Taking Mom Away" (Mang me di bo), and "Thám Tử Kiên: The Unsolved Case." Individual acting honors went to Tuan Tran for Best Actor in "Mang me di bo" and Phuong Anh Dao for Best Actress in "Mai," although both were absent from the November 25 closing ceremony at the Army Theater.

The festival's context aligns with a national strategy to advance cultural industries through 2030, with a long-term vision extending to 2045. Ta Quang Dong, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, noted the introduction of new features, including the participation of representatives from 34 provincial and municipal culture departments for knowledge exchange. Dang Tran Cuong, Director General of the Cinema Department, confirmed that Vietnamese cinema production and box office revenue have surpassed pre-pandemic figures, with domestic films commanding nearly 70% of the market share, suggesting a trajectory toward greater regional and global presence.