Hello, I'm David, I was born and raised in Fribourg, Switzerland and work as a film director. My fascination with cinema began as a child when I shed tears during my first visit to the movie theater. Contrary to expectations, it kindled my enthusiasm for filmmaking, and I've been consistently making movies since I acquired the skills to operate a DV-tape camera.
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I studied film direction at the prestigious ECAL University of Arts in Lausanne and majored in film editing at HEAD Geneva. In 2016, I embarked on a journey to Hong Kong for an internship in the movie industry, which significantly enhanced my filmmaking skills, my enthusiasm for working in foreign settings, and deepened my curiosity for capturing compelling stories with cross-cultural backgrounds.
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Since this experience, I had the chance to create films in various countries and environments, from the charming cobbled streets of Paris to the 3600m capital of La Paz. I like to approach my films with poetry, a touch of humor, and freshness. My interests lie the art of body language and movements, antiheroes and the drive and resilience people demonstrate while pursuing their boldest goals.
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When I'm not on set, you can find me drawing cartoons or storyboards, serving as a film festival jury member, crashing my FPV drones, or spending countless hours in the editing room because that's where a movie comes to life for the third time.
photo credit: Jay Burton
Medias / Press
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David Duc Hiêu Nguyen: From the Drawing Board to the Editing Suite, The Hongkongfixer, 05.07.2024
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Jumper 21, The Jump, Podcast, 08.2023
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David Nguyen - réalisateur de courts métrages, Carnotzet Voltaire, Radio Rabe, 25.11.2021
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#32 - Spreading joy, one movie at a time, LifeLine Podcast, 18.09.2021
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Petits-Déjeuners du FIFF, Radio Fribourg,19.07.2021
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Le cinéma en commun, La Liberté, 04.01.2021
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Il fait son cinéma, petit à petit, La Liberté, 29.09.2019
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Interview avec Naomie Margot, FIFF Festival International du Film de Fribourg, 2019
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Premiers pas d'un cinéaste, La Liberté, 09.10.2018
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Interview (EN),The Learning Hub Hanoi, 2018
Distinctions / Awards
2024
House
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Best Advertising, mars 2024, Festival International du Film d'Avignon, France
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Mejor Spot Publicitas, 8th Firm Film Festival, Espana
2022
A Very Good Impression
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Prix du meilleur videoclip comique, Prix du meilleur acteur, Rome Music Video Awards, IT
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2020
Spettacolo
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Nominé Prix SRG de la réalisation, Gässli Film Festival, Basel, CH
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2019
Prix de la Fondation Bédikian, Fribourg, CH
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Open Minded
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Prix du public, 3e prix, Kategorie D, 43. Schweizer Jugendfilmtage, Zürich, CH
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Sélection officielle, 33e FIFF Festival International du Film de Fribourg, CH
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Sélection officielle, PÖFF SHORTS, Tallinn, Estonie
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Sélection officielle, 7th Speechless Film Festival, Mankato, USA
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Court du mois et projection nationale, Base-court, CH
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2018
The Learning Hub - The Movie
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Meilleur film publicitaire, Liverpool International Film Festival, UK
ESL international travel blogger contest
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Meilleur travel blogger, ESL Language Studies, Berlin, DE
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2016
Un Casting Brûlant
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2e prix, catégorie libre, Festival Haut et Court, Lausanne, CH
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meilleur court-métrage (mai), Mieux vaut court que jamais (Léman Bleu), Genève, CH
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