New York Film Academy is proud to congratulate MFA Cinematography graduate Bob Nguyen on winning the Golden Kite Award for Best Cinematography in 2016 for his work on the feature film “Sut.” The Golden Kite is the highest award given in Vietnam, and represents the country’s equivalent to an Academy Award.
During his time as a student at NYFA, Bob worked hard to refine his cinematography skills and master his craft. He built a strong network, collaborating with many students from different programs. In addition to making connections, Bob built an impressive reel with a range of striking images that showcased his skills as a cinematographer. Bob took advantage of the network he built, finding work in Los Angeles, Italy, Australia, and Vietnam. Since graduating, he has photographed three feature films and a number of short films.
“Sut” tells the story of young man who became a national soccer star early in his life, but soon found himself lost after the death of his younger brother. Searching for purpose in his life, he returns to the sport he loves as the coach of his brother’s soccer team. He struggles to find a way to teach the players to come together and win as a team.
Working with the director to realize his vision, Bob wanted to avoid the clichés of a formulaic sports movie. He and the director were inspired by a number of films, including “Moneyball,” and they worked to tell a simple human story against a backdrop of the world of professional soccer. Shooting with the Red Epic digital cinema camera, Bob carefully planned his compositions and choice of lenses to present a different side of Vietnam not often seen on the screen. The film has been praised for its distinctive visual style, including winning the highest honor for cinematography given by the Vietnamese film community.
We are proud to congratulate Bob on this incredible award, and we wish him continued success in his career as a professional cinematographer.