The movie Trung So (Jackpot) is the only Vietnamese representative at the 25th Golden Rooster and Hundred Flowers Film Festival in Tangshan, in north China’s Heibei Province.

Considered China’s top film festival, the Golden Rooster and Hundred Flowers Film Festival will be held September 21 to 24.

“We are honoured to present our film at the film festival,” said producer Bebe Pham. “I also put my hopes in Jackpot at the festival”.

The movie was directed by Vietnamese-American Dustin Nguyen, who produced the film because he was moved by the story and inspired by people’s kindness and honesty. Nguyen also stars in the movie as a tricycle driver.

The film stars Ninh Duong Lan Ngoc and Chi Tai. The script was penned by Nguyen Manh Tuan, based upon the true story of Lanh, a lottery ticket seller in southern Dong Thap Province, set in 2011. One day, a delivery tricycle driver orders lottery tickets from Lanh and promises to pay and take the tickets later.

Lành finds that the tickets the driver ordered have won VNĐ6.6 billion (US$300,000). She takes the tickets to the driver and informs him about his good fortune, instead of claiming the prize herself.

Last year, Jackpot  won the Golden Kite award - dubbed  "Vietnamese Oscar" - for best feature movie, as well as best actress and best script at the cinema association’s festival in 2015, and was the Vietnamese entry competing for best foreign film at the US Academy Award.

At the Golden Rooster and Hundred Flowers Film Festival 2009, Nguyen won as favourite foreign actor for his role in Huyen Thoai Bat Tu (The Legend is Alive) whilst Ngoc’s role in Canh Dong Bat Tan (Floating Lives) also earned her the most favourite foreign actress at the 2011 festival. 

VNS