Well-known American director Janet Grillo met with the local audience on the sidelines of the screening of her movie “Jack of the Red Hearts” in the central city of Da Nang on March 17.

American director Janet Grillo

Revolving around the issues of orphans, family, autism, exclusion and inclusion, the film tells story of a teenage running away from her parole officer and ends up forming a unique bond with an 11 year-old autistic girl.

It tackles the parenting experience of coping with an autistic child from the sincere point of view of the director, who is a mother of a child with autism.

The event was supported by the American Film Showcase (AFS) – a partnership between the US Department of State and University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts. The AFS has brought US temporary cinematography to film lovers worldwide.

While in Vietnam, filmmaker and Emmy award-winning producer Janet Grillo is scheduled to talk with organisations on autism, attend filmmaking workshops, and meet with Vietnamese filmmakers in Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City.

VNA