Increase both quality and quantity.
This year saw 128 short films submitted, with 114 deemed eligible and 63 selected for publication on thanhnien.vn . The selection committee, comprising directors, producers, and experts in film, education , and other fields, then selected the Top 20 finalists. Director Nguyen Quang Dung, a judge throughout both seasons, stated: "Compared to season 1, Vietnamese 2025 has a larger number of films, higher quality, more consistent quality, and a wider variety of genres. Over time, the directing, filming, sound mixing, and editing have improved significantly. This year far surpasses last year, which is certainly something to be happy about."
Extraordinary Vietnamese people, beautiful landscapes of the country in short films.
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With an open theme (allowed by the Film Law), filmmakers have been free to create diverse stories. The majority of these revolve around family themes ( Memories, Ephemeral, Sweet Things That Remain, To My Mother, The Empty Space on the Other Side of the River…) and the lives of young people in modern society ( Camgurl, The Future, Happiness Cards: An Invitation from the Darkness, Simple Things …). Through these, filmmakers convey meaningful messages about family and human relationships, providing moments of empathy and leaving viewers with many emotions. In addition, other "hot" topics are also explored, demonstrating the younger generation's concern for society.
The judges selected the winners for each category during the deliberation session.
PHOTO: NHAT THINH
Director Ly Hai said: "There are many works that possess excellent storytelling and visuals, which are very impressive, in addition to an easy-to-understand and emotionally rich story."
In terms of filmmaking, from purely realistic like season 1, Vietnamese 2025 also features many experimental cinematic languages. Accordingly, works such as " On Top of the Cabinet, Under the Plant Pot, Hidden in the Heart ," "The Little Fish," "To My Mother's Mother," "A Story of Tam and Cam , " "Black and White," or "Inside a Film"... have brought many surprises in content and storytelling. Here, young filmmakers invite viewers to reflect more deeply, thereby introducing non-linear, surreal stories, rich in metaphorical elements...
The judges selected the winners for each category during the deliberation session.
PHOTO: NHAT THINH
Dr. Ngo Phuong Lan, President of the Vietnam Film Development Promotion Association, former Director of the Cinema Department, and Chair of the Jury of the competition, said: "There are short films that 'look' at the world in a very different way, and the message conveyed is also very subtle and delicate. Besides, learning filmmaking techniques from around the world also brings new approaches, thereby blending with Vietnamese elements to create unique works."
In terms of genre, the addition of a documentary category has made this year's awards season more vibrant. Accordingly, all three films – "Con Vẫn Mẹ Ngàn," "Giày Gió," and "Chị Sự" – convey messages of living beautifully and kindly, even though they are just ordinary citizens with quiet jobs in society. This year, the number of veteran artists participating in short films is also higher, including Meritorious Artist Ngọc Tản (" Gửi Mẹ của Mẹ "), Meritorious Artist Phạm Huy Thục (" Điều Giản Dị" ), Tú Oanh (" Mầm Nhớ "), etc., showing that the novel scripts and unique perspectives of the filmmakers have led these prominent names to agree to participate.
Some of the standout works in the final Top 20
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Empowering young people
Actress and producer Thu Trang said: "This is the first year I've been invited to be a judge for a short film competition. Looking at the Top 20, it's clear that the contestants have invested a lot, from creativity and effort to finances. Some of their works give me the feeling that they are very dedicated and spare no expense to fulfill their passion." She highly praised the young filmmakers because this generation has early opportunities to gain experience and a keen learning ability. Regarding acting skills, Thu Trang expressed: "There are some very captivating roles that draw me into the film, making me want to see what they portray and how they do it. These are actors with a very promising future. Hopefully, after the competition, producers, investors, directors, etc., will give them more opportunities to develop."
Some of the standout works in the final Top 20
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"Shark" Minh Beta - Chairman of Beta Group, expressed his surprise at the quality of the participating films. All the films were meticulously and carefully produced. The directing team included many promising young talents, and he hoped they would become new names in Vietnamese cinema. As an investor, he hoped that the competition would help young filmmakers mature, gain more experience, and he looked forward to collaborating with the new generation to bring more innovative, high-quality, and distinctive works to the public in the near future.
Some of the standout works in the final Top 20
PHOTO: BTC
Commenting on the role of Vietnamese 2025 , director Nguyen Quang Dung revealed: "Competitions like Vietnamese are very fortunate for young people. While the previous generation had to wait for exams or graduation to make short films, now the opportunities are increasing. Coupled with the increasingly easier conditions for filmmaking, it can be said that young filmmakers now have a healthy environment to develop. This environment helps creators determine whether they have talent or not, and also provides an opportunity to find collaborators, teams with shared passion and goals, so they can work together in the near future. In addition, the previous generation is always looking for new talents in this industry, so filmmakers will have the opportunity to access professional investors and producers."
The closing ceremony and awards presentation for the VN - Vietnamese 2025 short film competition took place at 2 PM today, August 21st, at Beta Cinemas Ung Van Khiem (Ho Chi Minh City), with the participation of many prominent figures such as Dr. Ngo Phuong Lan - President of the Vietnam Film Promotion Association, director Ly Hai, director Nguyen Quang Dung, actress and producer Thu Trang, producer and "shark" Minh Beta, actress and producer Dinh Ngoc Diep, actress Thuy Ngan, director Nguyen Thi Tham, critic Le Hong Lam... along with MC - Runner-up Hoang Oanh - Quang Huy, the contestants and film enthusiasts.
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/nang-buoc-nha-lam-phim-tre-185250820203154477.htm
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