State-funded war film 'Peach Blossom, Pho and Piano' to compete at Oscar

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has selected the film Dao, Pho va Piano (Peach Blossom, Pho and Piano) as its official nomination to compete in the best international feature film category at the 97th Academy Awards (Oscar).

Earlier, the Department of Cinema received an invitation from the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) to submit one movie representing Vietnam for the preliminary round of the best international feature at the 97th Academy Awards which is set to take place in Los Angeles, the U.S.

The department called for submissions on its website - cucdienanh.vn - and received four registrations, including Peach Blossom, Pho and Piano, Cai Gia Cua Hanh Phuc (The Price of Happiness), Lat Mat 7: Mot Dieu Uoc (Face off 7: One wish), and Mai.

On September 23, the National Council for Film Selection discussed and decided to choose the state-funded war film Peach Blossom, Pho and Piano which portrays a young couple’s journey to reunite on February 17, 1947, the last day of the 60-day Battle of Hanoi which signalled the start of the First Indochina War.

Directed by Phi Tien Son and commissioned by the Cinema Department, the film was produced by Film No. 1 Joint Stock Company at VND20 billion ($815,080).

The film won the Silver Lotus Award at the 23rd Vietnam Film Festival held in the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong in November 2023.