Category: News

ViFF 2009 Wraps Up with Awards to Top Films

VIFF 2009 Winners
VIFF 2009 Winners

April 23, 2009

Trống Đồng Awards went to FOOTY LEGENDS (feature), directed by Khoa Đỗ and A Summer Rain (short), directed by Ela Thier.

Audience Choice Awards went to OPERATION BABYLIFT: The Lost Children of Vietnam (feature), directed by Tammy Nguyễn Lee and Delivery Day (short), directed by Jane Manning.

Irvine, CA-The 4th biennial Vietnamese International Film Festival (ViFF) closed on April 12th to a cheering crowd with the Southern California premiere of ALL ABOUT DAD, a feature debut by Mark Tran. The night went on with a jungle-themed gala. All events took place at the University of California in Irvine (UCI).

Carrying the theme of Into View, the 8-day film festival featured over sixty short and feature films by emerging and established filmmakers from Australia, Canada, Denmark, France, the United Kingdom, Vietnam, and the United States. The event attracted more than 3,000 cinema enthusiasts from all over the world and was extensively covered by international and local press.

The prestigious Trống Đồng Awards were presented to FOOTY LEGENDS (feature), directed by Khoa Đỗ (Australia) and A Summer Rain (short), directed by Ela Thier (USA). “I am thrilled that FOOTY LEGENDS has been awarded the 2009 Vietnamese International Film Festival’s highest honor, the Grand Jury “Trống Đồng” Award in Irvine,” said director Khoa Đỗ. “For an Australian film to be recognized in this way is very rare and on behalf of all Australians back home, we are delighted to accept this award.”

Audience Choice Awards went to OPERATION BABYLIFT: The Lost Children of Vietnam (feature), directed by Tammy Nguyễn Lee and Delivery Day (short), directed by Jane Manning. “Being invited to join the growing Vietnamese American artist community and have our world premiere at VIFF was a huge honor. With the adoptees and Babylift volunteers in attendance, it was truly a special and unique evening. “We are so grateful for the warm reception we received at VIFF and even more thrilled to receive the Audience Choice Award,” producer/director Tammy Nguyễn Lee said.

ViFF also presented the Spotlight Award to actor Dustin Nguyễn to celebrate the great achievements that mark his acting career. The award was handed to Dustin Nguyễn by the renowned actress Kiều Chinh.

ViFF was spread throughout Southern California with screenings at UC Irvine’s Film and Video Center and Edwards University Cinema 6, both in Irvine, UCLA in Los Angeles, CA, and Bowers Museum, Santa Ana.

ViFF is presented by the two non-profit organizations Vietnamese American Arts and Letters Association (VAALA) and UCLA’s Vietnamese Language and Culture (VNLC). ViFF was established in October 2003 to showcase Vietnamese and Vietnamese Diasporic filmmakers. ViFF’s mission is to support, celebrate, and project a diversity of visions and voices from filmmakers of Vietnamese descent and films by, for, and about the Vietnamese people and culture.

ViFF is made possible by sponsorships/support of: Ford Foundation; UC Irvine (School of Humanities, Department of Film and Media Studies, Film and Video Center, Community & Government Relations, UCI Advancement,Vietnamese American Community Ambassadors (VACA), Department of Asian American Studies, International Center for Writing and Translation (ICWT), Cross Cultural Center, Vietnamese American Coalition (VAC), Vietnamese Student Association(VSA), Asian Pacific Student Association (APSA), UCLA’s Campus Programs Committee of the Program Activities Board, Campus Programs Committee of the Program Activities Board, Undergraduate Student Association (USAC); Bowers Museum, Wells Fargo, Union Bank, State Farm, Dr. & Mrs. Jan Vilcek, Jayvee Hiep Mai, Elite Insurance, Nguyet Cam Music, Wave Releasing, Chakra Restaurant, DTN-Tech, Karuna Healthcare, White Knight International, Inc., St. Anselm’s Cross Cultural Community Center…

Media sponsors: VAN-TV, VHN-TV, LA18 (KSCI), VNCR, QMS Media Group, Little Saigon Radio, Hon Viet TV, Viet Tide, Saigon TV, VBS TV, OC Life Magazine….

Co-presenters: American Red Cross – Orange County Chapter, API Equality-LA, Asian Pacific American Program, Smithsonian Institution, Washington D.C., Asian Pacific Legal Center Asian Pacific Student Association (APSA) at UC Irvine, Club O’ Noodles, Hawaii International Film Festival, Los Angeles Asian, Pacific Film Festival, Orange County Asian and Pacific Islander Community Alliance (OCAPICA), Project MotiVATe (MotivatingVietnamese American Teens), San Diego Asian Film Festival, St. Anselm’s Cross-Cultural Community Center, The Cambodian Family, UCLA Center for Southeast Asian Studies, UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television, Vietnamese American Cancer Foundation (VACF), Vietnamese American Coalition (VAC) at UC Irvine, Vietnamese American Community Ambassadors (VACA) at UC Irvine, Vietnamese American Law Student Association at Chapman University School of Law (VALSA), Vietnamese American Young Leaders Association of New Orleans (VAYLA-NO), Vietnamse Student Association (VSA) at UC Irvine.

"OPERATION BABYLIFT: THE LOST CHILDREN OF VIETNAM" WINS VIFF AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARD!

Adoptees and Babylift volunteers with Tammy Nguyen Lee (Producer/Director) and George Lee (Executive Producer) at the world premiere of "Operation Babylift: The Lost Children of Vietnam."
Adoptees and Babylift volunteers with Tammy Nguyen Lee (Producer Director) and George Lee (Executive Producer) at the world premiere of "Operation Babylift: The Lost Children of Vietnam."

OPERATION BABYLIFT: THE LOST CHILDREN OF VIETNAM CELEBRATES SUCCESSFUL DEBUT AT THE 2009 VIETNAMESE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

Documentary Wins the Coveted VIFF Audience Choice Award

DALLAS, TX, April 15, 2009 – On Friday, April 3, 2009 ATG Against the Grain Productions premiered Operation Babylift: The Lost Children of Vietnam at the Vietnamese International Film Festival (VIFF) in Santa Ana, California to a packed theatre at the Bowers Museum.  The feature documentary, described as “amazing…compelling and hard hitting” by Bolsavik.com, details the 1975 United States airlift of over 2,500 Vietnamese orphans during the tumultuous time leading up to the Fall of Saigon. The film was recently given the coveted Audience Choice Award over other highly regarded films.

Producer/Director Tammy Nguyen Lee says:  “Being invited to join the growing Vietnamese American artist community and have our world premiere at VIFF was a huge honor.  With the adoptees and Babylift volunteers in attendance, it was truly a special and unique evening. We are so grateful for the warm reception we received at VIFF and even more thrilled to receive the Audience Choice Award. It means a lot to all of us, especially screening among a group of so many wonderful films, and knowing that this was the film that touched peoples’ hearts.”

Several cast members were delighted with the success of the premiere. Bert Ballard, an adoptee who flew in from Waterloo, Ontario, says, “I am very excited that Ms. Lee’s film was selected for the VIFF Audience Choice Award.  This selection represents the importance of Operation Babylift and the experiences of adopted Vietnamese persons to the Vietnamese American community. I look forward to future opportunities where this film can open up dialogue and share with others the experiences of adopted persons of Operation Babylift.”

Lieutenant Commander and adoptee Mark Slavik attended the screening from Seattle, Washington and said, “Watching this documentary brought back emotions and memories of a time that I almost forgot.  Growing up I just didn’t have a good understanding or maturity to acknowledge my past.  Again, this documentary… really helped me to reconnect with my past.  This is a truly positive experience for me and it is a great honor to be a part of this history.”

Los Angeles based adoptee and cast member DC Wolfe adds, “It is wonderful to know that there is still an interest in real stories that present all aspects of life–struggles, joy, heartache and support. Since being involved with the film, I have discovered a kinship in fellow adoptees. I commend VIFF for believing in the film and respect Tammy for her hard work and believing in our journey.”

Operation Babylift: The Lost Children of Vietnam tells the significant yet untold story of the $2 million dollar US initiative that airlifted over 2,500 Vietnamese orphans out of a war-torn country to protect them from the impending threat of the Communist regime.  These adoptees grew up facing unique challenges in America, including prejudice overshadowed by a controversial war and cultural identity crisis.  Featuring compelling and insightful interviews of the volunteers, parents, and organizations directly involved, the movie takes a contemporary look at Babylift and its relevance to international adoption today.  The feature documentary was a passionate team effort that took over 4 years to produce and is currently making its way through the film festival circuit. For more information, please visit www.TheBabylift.com

Dallas based non profit ATG Against the Grain Productions was formed to promote Asian American cultural awareness through compelling media projects, while also raising funds for international orphanages.  For more information, please visit www.AgainstTheGrainProductions.com

Up Close and Personal with OPERATION BABYLIFT: THE LOST CHILDREN OF VIETNAM

Kristine Sa of the “Kristine Sa Show” got up close and personal with our very own film-maker Tammy Nguyen Lee, alongside Bert & Sarah Ballard, Tiffany Goodson, and DC Wolfe of award-winning documentary film Operation Babylift : The Lost Children Of Vietnam and Against the Grain Productions. Check out this first-time, intimate interview with Tammy and the cast of Operation Babylift!

Pt 1 of 4

Pt 2 of 4

Pt 3 of 4

Pt 4 of 4

Thank you, Kristine Sa and VHN-TV, for sitting down with us!

Interview of Operation Babylift Adoptee–Robert Ballard

One of our very own adoptees, Robert Ballard, was interviewed for Canadian press The Record.com!

Robert Ballard
Robert Ballard

Read the original posting here:

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Lost children of Vietnam TheRecord.com – CanadaWorld – Lost children of Vietnam

Thirty-four years ago, 3,300 orphans were evacuated from a war-torn Saigon in a massive humanitarian effort called Operation Babylift. UW’s Robert Ballard was one of those children

Published 04.02.2009

WATERLOO

He was much too young to make sense of the chaos.

At just three weeks old, the child who would later be named Robert Ballard could not have understood why he and hundreds of other Vietnamese orphans were being corralled onto a military airplane.

A tiny wristband on his arm bore the name Vu Tien Do II — his only link to an identity and a family history that would intrigue him for the rest of his life.

Growing up in Colorado, he would often ask his adoptive parents about Operation Babylift — the 1975 evacuation of orphans from wartorn Vietnam — and they told him as much as they knew.

But Ballard was haunted by questions of heritage and belonging, and wondered what became of the other children from Saigon’s orphanages.

Some of his questions may be answered tomorrow night, when Ballard — now an assistant professor at the University of Waterloo — attends the world premiere in California of the documentary Operation Babylift: The Lost Children of Vietnam.

“I’m glad people will get to hear our stories and voices as Vietnamese adoptees,” Ballard said yesterday in his UW office.

Ballard is featured prominently in the documentary, not only as a Vietnamese adoptee himself, but also because he and his wife are now in the process of adopting a baby boy from Vietnam.

Much of Ballard’s academic work focuses on issues surrounding international adoption practices, and he is working on a soon-to-be-published book aimed at providing guidance for adopted teens.

Ballard and his wife will fly to Los Angeles tomorrow morning to attend the premiere of the film among fellow adoptees and director Tammy Nguyen Lee, as part of the Vietnamese International Film Festival.

The film documents the frenzied efforts that ensued when then-U.S. president Gerald Ford approved Operation Babylift, which ultimately saw the evacuation of roughly 3,300 children from Vietnam to the United States, Canada, France and other nations.

How, exactly, Ballard ended up on one of the flights is a mystery. There is no record of him at a Saigon orphanage. It’s possible he was one of many babies brought to the airport at the last minute by desperate parents hoping the airlift would carry the children toward safer, happier lives.

Such uncertainties have troubled Ballard in the past, but through his own research and involvement in the documentary, he has gained perspective on the events that shaped his life 34 years ago.

“I don’t harbour any resentment toward the people who made those difficult decisions,” he says.

“This is the life I have been given and I have made the best of what I’ve been given.”

chunter@therecord.com

Watch a trailer of Operation Babylift at www.thebabylift.com

Against The Grain Productions featured in Pegasus News!

Our president, Tammy Nguyen, recently sat down and did an interview on behalf of ATG for Pegasus News in Dalllas. You check out the original article here!

Former Dallas beauty queen founds organization to help orphans in Vietnam

BY STAN ASCHER

Tammy Nguyen Lee has never forgotten her roots.

Filmmaker, model, honors graduate of Southern Methodist University, and a former Miss Asian-American Texas, she lives the American dream with her husband George, a regional manager for Johnson & Johnson, in an upscale part of North Dallas.

Life wasn’t always so seemingly easy, though.

Born in Vietnam, Tammy’s life was, like many others, displaced after the Vietnam War. She and her mother fled Saigon more than 30 years ago when she was only three months old, spending more than a year and a half in a refugee camp in Hong Kong. Eventually, they were sponsored by a church in Maryland, and arrived in the United States in 1981. She came to Texas to join friends and family in 1983, where she has lived ever since.

Determined to honor her heritage, she helped create Against the Grain Productions, an IRS-established charity and media production house to help Vietnamese orphans, with her husband and mother.

Board of directors (from left to right): Justin Hung, Aivy Nguyen, Aileen Nguyen, Ann Chao, Tammy Nguyen Lee, George Lee, Shirley Yu (not pictured are Steve Bae and Jared Rehberg) 

Board of directors (from left to right): Justin Hung, Aivy Nguyen, Aileen Nguyen, Ann Chao, Tammy Nguyen Lee, George Lee, Shirley Yu (not pictured are Steve Bae and Jared Rehberg)

“[The name] embodies my philosophy of life in general – not wanting to do just what’s expected of you and thinking outside of the box and being creative,” she says.

The group helps Vietnamese orphanages obtain resources like food, clothes, and education. While this can be as simple as sending money, it often involves trips to Vietnam to distribute goods in person. It’s a complicated process that has Tammy visiting markets in Vietnam, negotiating prices for supplies, ensuring that donations don’t get waylaid by corruption, and physically delivering supplies to orphanages.

“In the United States, you can just drop stuff off at the Salvation Army or go to the local CostCo or Sam’s Club and just stick it in your SUV, but over there, it’s a lot more challenging of an ordeal,” she says.

George found the first trip to Vietnam to be a life-changing experience.

“We live in such a great county [where] things are pretty plentiful and life is pretty decent, but when you compare to going over there and seeing these particular orphanages [and see] that the everyday struggle is about being able to buy food and shelter and all these basic necessities — that was very eye opening,” he says.

Tammy even made a film devoted to the topic called Operation Babylift: The Lost Children of Vietnam; it’s being featured at the upcoming Vietnamese Film Festival in Westminster, Calif. on April 4.

Closer to home, they’re hosting Fashion for a Passion, a night of music, food, and style on Saturday March 21, with proceeds going to their charity. The show will be held at the LandCo./7 Senses club in the Dallas design district, and will feature the work of Asian-American designers.

Like so much of what Tammy does, it not only helps her charity but also supports creative endeavors by people whose background she shares.

“I think it’s really just a great opportunity for people to see what’s coming out of the Asian-American community in terms of design,” she says. “Not only are you being entertained by something that is universally relatable like fashion, but in addition to that you are [helping to raise] money for a very worthy cause. I think that’s a pretty powerful thing there.”