Top Candidates
Officially launched from May 23 to July 15, after more than a month and a half of receiving entries, season 2 of the Vietnam Short Film Contest - Vietnamese 2025 (organized by Thanh Nien Newspaper in collaboration with the Vietnam Cinema Promotion and Development Association and SanDisk Vietnam, with the support of Gigamall Vietnam, Beta Group) has found outstanding works for the final round.
20 works entered the final round
PHOTO: Organizing Committee
The preliminary round jury, consisting of directors, film producers and experts in the fields of cinema, education, etc. , independently scored the entries based on the following criteria: the work is suitable for the theme (including local characteristics); the uniqueness in the implementation of ideas; the approach to the language of world cinema; the humanity, creating emotion; the actors' genuine acting; the dialogue and images are suitable for traditional customs; the quality of camera angles, composition, techniques, effects, etc.
As a result, 20 excellent works entered the final round, competing for important awards within the framework of the contest:
1. The Seed of Memory (Director - Screenwriter: Bui Duc Anh)
2. The Sweet Thing That Remains (Director: Thai Bao Long - Screenwriter: Ho Minh Hieu)
3. Dance (Director: Loc Phuc - Screenwriter: Le Anh Thuy, Loc Phuc)
4. Sounds like a train (Director: Dinh Hoang Long, Vu Thanh Phuong - Screenwriter: Tran Xuan Mai)
5. To Mom's Mother (Director - Screenwriter: Hieu ADi)
6. On top of the cupboard, under the flower pot, in the heart (Director: Ly Vu Bang, Dinh Thanh Dat - Screenwriter: Nguyen Thanh Vy)
7. A story of Tam and Cam (Director - Screenwriter: Duy Phy)
8. The Whole Mother's Child (Director - Screenwriter: Le Bui Phuong Nhung)
9. The Flower Thief (Director - Screenwriter: Pham Anh Tuan)
10. Ephemeral (Director - Screenwriter: Duong Khanh Trung)
11. Wind Shoes (Director: Tran Vu Linh - Screenwriter: Tran Phuong Vu)
12. Little Fish (Director - Screenwriter: Dao Hoang Duy)
13. Future (Director - Screenwriter: Khang Yip)
14. Black and White or (Inside a Movie) (Director - Screenwriter: Vu Dinh Cuong)
15. Happiness Cards: Invitation from the Darkness (Director - Screenwriter: Chu Dieu Linh)
16. Sister Su... (Director: Khanh Huy - Screenwriter: Minh Triet)
17. The Empty Land Across the River (Director: V.Hieu Trung - Screenwriter: V.Hieu Trung and Le Yen Thi)
18. Camgurl (Director - Screenwriter: Nhat Niy)
19. Crossing the Street (Director - Screenwriter: Nguyen Tram The Bao)
20. Simple Things (Director - Screenwriter: Ngo Nguyen Hoai Bao)
Vietnam comes alive through every film
According to the evaluation of the Jury of the selection round, the works in the top 20 have unique artistic vision, conveying impressive content and messages even within the limited scope of the short film genre. In addition, the filming, editing and acting techniques of the cast are also very remarkable.
In this year's season, the stories of young people are vividly portrayed and very relevant. In the midst of a bustling, stressful life, most of them turn to their hometowns and loved ones to find comfort there. However, they have to continue to overcome other challenges once they have returned here, from generation gap, peer pressure to past legacies and the dilemma of staying or leaving. But in the end, it is the familiar feeling, the care and love that lifts them up. But not everyone can return in time, thereby sending many messages of love while they still can. This theme can be seen in many works such as The Sweet Thing to Stay , Sending to Mom's Mom , Ephemeral , The Empty Land on the Other Side of the River...
That fast pace of life also makes people gradually change, learn to slow down and absorb small, simple but extremely beautiful things. This has been conveyed through the films Simple Things , Seeds of Life , Flower Thief... Besides, many hot issues that attract the attention of society are also cleverly conveyed such as fraud, lies ( Crossing the Road ), abuse of personal data ( Camgurl )...
This year also witnessed works with unique forms. We can mention the short animated film A story of Tam and Cam with haunting frames showing a different perspective on Cam, the experimental work Black and White or (Inside a film) talking about diversity in artistic reception. In addition, familiar themes such as emotions, life... are also expressed by filmmakers with a new perspective, bringing a new feeling such as: On top of the cupboard , under the potted plant , kept in the heart or Happiness Cards: Invitation from the dark , Future , Small fish... Sounds like the sound of a train exploiting historical elements, talking about the tenacious intelligence soldiers in the enemy's heart of the Vietnam People's Army is also very special.
With the expansion of the genre to include short documentaries, the top 20 Vietnamese 2025 has 3 works in this genre. They are Con ton me ngan (The Whole Mother) about the custom of burying newborn babies with their deceased mothers after giving birth of the J'rai people, along with 2 works conveying the message of "living beautifully" - the story of silent shoemakers for leprosy patients ( Gioi Gio ) and a sanitation worker who overcomes physical and mental pain to have a new life thanks to her love of music ( Chi Su... ). The top 20 will continue to be posted on the channel https://www.youtube.com/@iHayTV of Thanh Nien Newspaper.
In addition, the official awards of the competition such as: Best Short Film, Most Creative Short Film, Best Director, Best Actor... will be selected from the top 20 by the jury including: Dr. Ngo Phuong Lan - President of the Vietnam Cinema Promotion and Development Association, former Director of the Cinema Department and Chairman of the Jury; director Ly Hai; director Nguyen Quang Dung; actress - producer Thu Trang; producer Bui Quang Minh ("shark" Minh Beta); and journalist Lam Hieu Dung - Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Thanh Nien Newspaper. The closing and award ceremony is expected to take place next August at Beta Cinemas Ung Van Khiem (HCMC).
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/20-phim-vao-vong-chung-khao-cuoc-thi-vietnamese-2025-185250729234506544.htm
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