"I Love You, Mom" ​​Won First Prize in a Filmmaking Competition on Gender Bias

The first prize in the film contest on the topic of eliminating gender stereotypes went to the film “I love you, Mom” by director Nguyen Phuong Phi, an independent filmmaker in Ho Chi Minh City.The film tells the story of a single mother who overcomes gender stereotypes.

The results of the film making contest titled "Howabnormal - Normal or Abnormal" were officially announced on the afternoon of March 4 in Hanoi.

Award the winning author of the contest.

More than 50 individuals and film teams submitted scripts to the competition, and the top nine received funding to produce films. In the end, three films received jury awards and one received the audience award.

Not only winning First Prize, the short film “I Love You Mom” also won the Best Actress award for Vu Hoang Linh Chi in her role as a girl telling the story of her single mother encountering gender stereotypes in life.

Second Prize went to the film “Let Me Help Dad” by author Ngo Thi Trang. Third Prize went to the film “Isolation” by author Hoang Nguyen. The Audience Choice Award went to the film “Sorry, My Child” by author Vu Thi Ngoc Diem. The Best Screenplay Award went to author Nguyen Thi Hong Quyen with the short film “The Miracle from the Scarf”.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) launched the competition in December 2015 to encourage filmmakers, young people and communities to produce short, creative films that reflect negative stereotypes and new perspectives, to promote equality in the workplace, in the family and in society in general.

The competition has attracted the enthusiastic participation of young people and young filmmakers across the country. The young directors have vividly, objectively and truthfully portrayed diverse perspectives on gender stereotypes that are considered normal in life. The stories are still happening, considered normal by society, but told from the perspective of young directors, posing open questions for viewers to think about.

Dr. Pratibha Mehta, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Viet Nam and UNDP Representative in Viet Nam, said that through the films produced under the “#Howabnormal” campaign, gender stereotypes are clearly reflected, as well as the double standards that people set for women and men, for boys and girls, are brought to light.

Gender stereotypes exist in Vietnam that hold women and men back from certain roles and occupations. According to the UNDP report on women’s leadership in Vietnam, very few women hold senior government positions: 9% ministers, 8% vice ministers and 7% general directors and equivalent. The campaign aims for equality for all, so that no one is held back by any social stereotypes and everyone can reach their full potential.

Ms. Pratibha Mehta also called on everyone to commit to creating a new normal for a more equal and fair society: “I strongly believe that every commitment will bring change and together, we can make a more equitable society.”

According to Vietnam+