Duong Documentary Wins Two Awards in San Francisco
The King of Trash, a family story of war, displacement and business building, took top honors at the 13th San Francisco International New Concept Film Festival.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Awards
The documentary The King of Trash won Best Documentary and Best People Choice Film at the 13th San Francisco International New Concept Film Festival, with the awards presented November 1, 2026, at Herbst Theatre. David Duong, founder and CEO of California Waste Solutions, dedicated the film and both awards to his parents, Jim Thu Tai Duong and Anh Thi Le.
Why it matters
The film traces a family's path from war and displacement to building a business in America, offering a personal account of the refugee experience in San Francisco. Its two wins give local audiences a notable homegrown documentary to watch as the city's film community recognizes independent storytelling.
The film took two awards at the 13th San Francisco International New Concept Film Festival, presented November 1, 2026, at Herbst Theatre in San Francisco. The source does not report the competing field or any vote totals for the People Choice category.
The players
David Duong
David Duong is the founder and CEO of California Waste Solutions and the subject of The King of Trash, a documentary about his family's journey from war and displacement to building a business in America.
California Waste Solutions
California Waste Solutions is the waste-management business founded and led by David Duong, the subject of the award-winning documentary.
The details
David Duong, who arrived in San Francisco as a Vietnamese refugee nearly five decades before the ceremony, returned to the city to attend the event. He dedicated the film and its two awards to his parents, Jim Thu Tai Duong and Anh Thi Le.
Timeline
Nearly five decades before 2026: David Duong arrives in San Francisco as a Vietnamese refugee.
November 1, 2026: The awards are presented at Herbst Theatre in San Francisco.
Culture Shift
The festival's 13th edition recognizing an immigrant refugee's family story reflects a wider movement in independent film toward personal narratives of displacement and self-made enterprise. The win places the film within that trend in San Francisco's festival circuit.
For San Francisco residents, the film is a local showcase of a refugee story set in the city's own business and cultural life. Audiences interested in independent documentaries now have a recognized title to seek out.
The takeaway
The film shows how a family's survival and a business built over decades can become a story that audiences want to see. It is a reminder that personal histories of displacement carry weight in local arts recognition.
Further reading
Explore more San Francisco Awards coverage for other honors in the city's cultural scene.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Yuma Sun.
