What do you see from the new generation of directors?

UNDERSTANDING YOUR STRENGTHS TO CREATE QUALITY WORKS

In recent times, Vietnamese cinema, besides established names like Tran Thanh, Ly Hai, and Nguyen Quang Dung, has seen a new generation of directors such as Tran Thanh Huy, Trinh Dinh Le Minh, Luu Thanh Luan, Duong Dieu Linh, and Pham Thien An actively participating in creating noteworthy cinematic products.

Director Trinh Dinh Le Minh

In 2024, Trinh Dinh Le Minh impressed audiences with "Once Upon a Time There Was a Love Story," an adaptation of a work by writer Nguyen Nhat Anh. Prior to that, the director, born in the 1980s, had helmed several feature films such as "Dear Mother, I'm Going," "Invisible Evidence ," etc. He was awarded Best Director at the 22nd Vietnam Film Festival (2021) for " Invisible Evidence ." The film's total revenue of approximately 40 billion VND in the romantic drama genre is considered a memorable milestone for this young director.

In the horror genre, Luu Thanh Luan is also a formidable name, having directed films like " Ghost Dog " and "Spirit Cat: Ghost Possessing a Corpse ," both grossing hundreds of billions of VND. To date, the 35-year-old filmmaker has only directed these two films after more than 10 years working as an editor. Speaking about his filmmaking style, Luu Thanh Luan says he always wants to create products from a fresh perspective, avoiding clichés or formulas.

When discussing the new generation of directors, the name Tran Thanh Huy cannot be overlooked. To date, Tran Thanh Huy has amassed a portfolio of 17 short films, the most notable of which is Rom - an internationally award-winning film that grossed nearly 64 billion VND and was considered a "phenomenon" upon its release in 2020. The psychological, social, and crime themes addressed in Rom were also considered a "novelty" in Vietnamese cinema.

In addition, names like Duong Dieu Linh - Rain on Butterfly Wings , or Pham Thien An - Inside the Golden Cocoon ; Pham Ngoc Lan with The Coolie Never Cries … are known for numerous international awards and have made a special impression on professionals with their groundbreaking, fresh, and creative filmmaking style.

Speaking about the strengths of young filmmakers, director Luu Thanh Luan said: "Currently, I and other young filmmakers have access to many advanced technologies and the openness of audiences to various film genres. This creates a space for creative expression. In addition, young directors now update their knowledge of audience tastes very quickly, are perceptive, and flexible in their filmmaking thinking."

"Today's young filmmakers have access to both classic and modern films from world cinema. They grasp youth trends, approach stories with fresh perspectives, and are not afraid to question and challenge old conventions. Another strength is their understanding of technology and their ability to utilize advanced techniques, helping to optimize budgets and improve image quality," director Trinh Dinh Le Minh commented.

Director Tran Thanh Huy

Director Liu Cheng Lun

FACING MANY PRESSURES

Producer Vo Thanh Hoa believes that the film industry needs a successor generation, a highly skilled workforce, and, importantly, opportunities to work, but opportunities are not readily available for young Vietnamese filmmakers.

Speaking about the difficulties faced by the new generation of young filmmakers, Tran Thanh Huy shared: "The current film market situation makes it quite difficult for young filmmakers to realize their cherished film projects, because the market is very competitive. The number of films that 'win' at the box office is not large, and it's concentrated among a few filmmakers with famous teams, so investment money usually flows to them. That's also the reason why raising capital has become extremely difficult, putting great pressure on young filmmakers. They often have to seek additional foreign funding to have enough money to make films, but securing funding from international film funds is just as difficult as raising capital domestically, because the competition has now become international."

Scene from the film Once Upon a Time There Was a Love Story by Trinh Dinh Le Minh

Scene from the film "The Lynx" by director Liu Cheng Lun.

Under pressure to establish their name, according to Trinh Dinh Le Minh, young directors need to prove their abilities through their work, whether it's short films, independent films, or collaborative projects. They need to build confidence in communicating their vision and demonstrate their ability to work effectively with the creative team. In addition, understanding the audience and the market is a major plus. A promising young director is someone who knows how to balance their own style with market realities, while always maintaining patience and flexibility in all situations.

Speaking further about the common difficulties and pressures faced by the new generation of filmmakers, the director of " Once Upon a Time There Was a Love Story" stated: "Young directors not only have to face high expectations from the audience, but also have to satisfy producers and investors – who are always questioning the possibility of recouping their investment. Young filmmakers must find and maintain their own voice in the context of rapidly changing film trends and balance it with the expectations of producers. They also face difficulties in accessing film funding for their debut films."

Director Luu Thanh Luan, after achieving success with two films that grossed over 100 billion VND, has identified the pressures he faces: "The first thing to mention is the lack of practical experience. For me, all stages from pre-production, on set, to post-production are completely new compared to my previous work. However, I learn what's new, and if I make mistakes, I correct them. The important thing is having the opportunity to make films. Next, for a new director, attracting investment for a project will be difficult. Besides that, defining a filmmaking style and constantly innovating to create a work that is different from other films on the market is also a huge challenge."

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/thay-gi-tu-the-he-dao-dien-moi-185250209201000078.htm