Launching a content creation contest using AI.

VHO - The Vietnam Cultural Industry Development Association, Ho Chi Minh City branch (VCIDA-HCMC), in collaboration with the Vietnam Foundation for Supporting Creative Literature and Arts (VIFOLAC-HCMC), is organizing the first AI short film competition with the theme "Vietnamese Legends Through the Lens of AI" in 2026.

The delegates performed the ceremony to launch the competition.

The competition is part of the "Together We Tell the Story of Vietnam" program, which aims to encourage the creative community, especially young people, to apply artificial intelligence (AI) technology to retell the history, legends, culture, and beauty of Vietnam through modern cinematic language.

According to the organizers, the competition aims to promote the development of the cultural industry associated with AI technology; create a creative environment for the filmmaking community, content creators, and those who love Vietnamese history; and promote Vietnamese culture, tourism , and heritage through modern cinematic forms.

In addition, the competition aims to contribute to raising awareness about the responsible, human-centered application of AI; and to discover and develop talents in AI-based filmmaking in Vietnam.

Contestants can choose one of three content categories for their entry. The first category involves creating AI-generated short films recreating battles, historical figures, and national heroes of Vietnam such as Mai Thúc Loan, Ngô Quyền, Trần Hưng Đạo, Lê Lợi, and Nguyễn Huệ.

The second group creates AI-powered short films that reconstruct ancient civilizations and societies in Vietnamese history based on archaeological data. The third group creates AI-powered short films showcasing scenic spots and cultural tourism in Vietnamese provinces and cities.

The competition is open to individuals and content creators; filmmakers, directors, designers, and AI creators; students passionate about film and technology; organizations and businesses interested in AI and the cultural industry; and international friends who love Vietnamese culture.

The organizers announced that the submission period for entries will run from June to August 2026; judging and community voting will take place in August 2026. The awards gala and premiere are expected to be held in September 2026 in Ho Chi Minh City.

Mr. Lai Minh Tu - Head of VCIDA-HCMC Branch, shared his thoughts on the significance of the competition.

Speaking at the event, Mr. Lai Minh Tu - Head of VCIDA-HCMC Branch, said that the "Vietnamese Legends Through the Lens of AI" competition was organized out of the concern of those working in culture, history, and technology regarding the need to preserve and spread Vietnamese identity in the digital age.

According to him, Vietnam possesses a rich and distinctive culture, a glorious history, and a wealth of heritage, while the development of technology is blurring the boundaries of space and time, opening up opportunities for cultural values ​​to reach the public anytime, anywhere.

Mr. Lai Minh Tu believes that AI and digital technology will become tools to more effectively spread the history, culture, beautiful landscapes, and stories of Vietnam to domestic and international communities.

The competition also aims to create opportunities for all citizens, regardless of age or profession, to participate in telling the story of their homeland and country through modern cinematic language, even if they do not have much experience in filmmaking or AI.

According to him, the organizing committee will implement activities to guide, advise, and support filmmaking skills and AI applications to help participants gradually access new technologies.

For those already involved in filmmaking, the competition is an opportunity to update their technology and enhance their creative efficiency; while for those familiar with AI, it's a chance to apply technology to storytelling about Vietnamese history and culture.

Experts share insights on the importance and implementation of IP in the development of cultural technologies in Vietnam.

The organizers expect the competition to gradually become a prestigious annual event, contributing to promoting the image, culture, and history of Vietnam on the world's digital map through artificial intelligence technology.

According to Mr. Bui Quan Manh, Head of the Technology Department of VCIDA-HCMC and Head of the competition organizing committee, the total prize value of the competition is 2.5 billion VND, including the grand prize for the entire competition (500 million VND); 3 first prizes for 3 competition categories, worth 250 million VND each; 3 second prizes (150 million VND each), 3 third prizes (100 million VND each) and 18 consolation prizes.

Source: https://baovanhoa.vn/nhip-song-so/phat-dong-cuoc-thi-sang-tao-noi-dung-bang-ai-229275.html