Mon COURT-MÉTRAGE sélectionné dans un FESTIVAL en CALIFORNIE

Nightmare !
Our Uber dropped us at a corner

but the street is cut in half

and the interview takes place
accross this building

and we can't fly

"voilà"

We can't go through a small alley

We have to go around the block because
the network's building is in Little Saigon

(music)

Why am I in California ?

I directed a film 2 years ago
named Little Father

and it got selected at Viet Film Fest
in Orange County, California

We're here for 3 days
Hi Cassandre !

to take part of the festival, screening
is on Saturday

Opening night is tonight

We use make up, I didn't shave

I'm wearing a shirt, and I won't have a
cap on my head

That's a lot
We went to a great networking event

last night with other film directors

taking part of the festival,
coming from around the world

I even sang Joe Dassin

- There's a tape, Cassandre ?
- Yes

"aux Champs Élysées, aux Champs Élysées,
au soleil, sous la pluie, à midi,

ou à minuit, il y a tout ce que
vous voulez aux Champs Élysées

Tu m'as dit j'ai RDV dans un sous-sol
avec des fous qui vivent la guitare

à la main du soir au matin
alors je t'ai accompagné on a chanté

on a dansé et on a même pas pensé...

We had our first screening this morning

Many great films

Mostly shortfilm, it was amazing,
very amazing !

A short-film I really like named
"Ramadan"

it's a documentary about 5 young
south-east asian muslim

who filmed themselves during ramadan
to share what it is

and what religion means for them

They directed it in 2016, when Trump
mentionned Muslim Ban a lot

It was a way for them to respond
to what the media said

Tonight, Red Carpet, party, food,
screening I guess

Stephane presented Spring leaves
at the festival last year

He's the one telling me
about Viet Film Fest

He's here with Jasmine Lane
a film he directed this year

I should get ready
Boom ! "My Adidas ..."

(My Adidas - Run DMC)

"First I'd like to thank the board
of VAALA"

I didn't have to come with Little Father
to this festival

because it's a film with
a small budget

and the trip was at my expense

I only apply to this particular festival

It wasn't any festival

It was amy way to meet a
Vietnamese community

who lives his identity in way
we don't in France

I arrived 2 hours ago

This is my first interview with
an important Viet TV in the US

And yet...

"Do you have any Vietnamese in you ?"

as a start, then I'm asked what I like
about the culture here in Little Saigon

I just got here, and I don't know much

A Canadian director tap my shoulder
and tells me that I should

be interested, because it's my culture
"Man"

It hits me, I'm confused

I realised things aren't go easy,
the interview is a nightmare

I end up speaking nonsense, and feel
I'm not what's expected

I came too relaxed

I had to be more prepared,
screening is in 2 days

The following Q&A are in English
I have to pre-write my thoughts

to say what's on my mind properly

This dragon fruit comes from
the neighbour's garden

He offered us some
So nice,

hum...

- Are you anxious, Thomas ?
_ I am

- What about you, Stephane

- No, digesting keeps me
from stress

I was moved by the many stories,
and identities

that were in the films

Those describe a large spectrum

and yet many similarities

I've been touched by films about
intersectionnality

religion, gendre, or memories

I came here by choice, with my brown face

that got me questionned about whether
I actually was Vietnamese

or if I could talk Vietnamese

Being here was way to become part
of this community

and being represented

Showing asians are a uniform monolithic
group of people

It's a weird self-recovery process
I still struggle

to find balance in this mix
One film at a time I'll try

to wrtie stries that speaks for me
and maybe

it would mean something to others

(music)

Last day of the festival

Yesterday Little Father was screened
There were a few people

I'm glad I could express my
thoughts in English

that was the hard part, to figure out how
to say things the right way

The film got success,
I had many good reviews

I was happy to see Jasmine Lane at last !

In which performs Mike Nguyen, Grace Ly,
François-Xavier Phan,

Can't remember everybody-
You are great in this scene

It's funny to picture you in the 60s
70s 75

Fanny who I wen to highschool
with also plays in the film

That was unexpected !

Yesterday morning I watched short films
directed by a young group

who went on a weekly program
for filmmakers

and it was interesting to see their
documentaries, fiction, or action films

Many of topics were relevant and
made sense

I really like the story of a teenagers
who learns back Khmer

because he forgot, and want to speak
to his grandmother

There were a documentary about
rent price range

and how landlords can rise rent
without regulation

it was well put for a first film

congratulations to all of the directors

It's a great work, respect
You have many years ahead to learn

and to developp your style

Thanks to Viet Film Fest Staff for
having us, and those 3 days