The 2nd Ho Chi Minh City Short Film Festival 2026, under the theme “Inspiring Young Creativity – Building the City of Film,” will officially take place from June 5 to 9, 2026, featuring a wide range of cinematic, creative, and international networking activities. The event is expected to contribute to strengthening Ho Chi Minh City's City of Film brand within the UNESCO Creative Cities Network.
The Festival is directed by the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee and jointly organized by the Ho Chi Minh City Cinema Association and the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Culture and Sports, in collaboration with the Department of Education and Training, the Ho Chi Minh City Youth Union, Ho Chi Minh City Television (HTV), and various relevant departments and organizations.
Poster of the 2nd Ho Chi Minh City Short Film Festival – 2026
According to the Organizing Committee, Ho Chi Minh City is currently the country's largest hub for film production and distribution, while also serving as a leading center for film education and training, with a vibrant community of young filmmakers representing diverse genres and creative styles. Against this backdrop, the Ho Chi Minh City Short Film Festival is expected to become a platform for discovering, nurturing, and developing the next generation of filmmaking talent.
Building on the success of its inaugural edition in 2023, the Festival will continue to be held biennially to encourage creativity, foster the development of short film production, and honor works of outstanding artistic, humanistic, and ideological value.
This year's Festival takes place at a particularly significant moment as Ho Chi Minh City continues to advance its cinematic development following its official designation as a UNESCO Creative City of Film. The Festival not only provides an opportunity to reinforce the city's position as an emerging creative hub in the region, but also contributes to fulfilling its commitments to UNESCO by developing a sustainable film ecosystem, expanding access to culture, nurturing young talent, strengthening international exchanges, and creating creative spaces that benefit the community.
Ho Chi Minh City unveils the City of Film brand identity
In addition, the Festival also celebrates major national milestones, particularly the 50th anniversary of Saigon–Gia Dinh officially being renamed Ho Chi Minh City (July 2, 1976 – July 2, 2026).
The Festival will feature a wide range of professional, artistic, and community activities, including a flower-offering ceremony in tribute to President Ho Chi Minh at the President Ho Chi Minh Statue Park; a Short Film Festival Exhibition showcasing film technology and creative cinema spaces; and the opening ceremony, closing ceremony, and awards presentation at the Ho Chi Minh City Opera House.
The Organizing Committee will also present a variety of programs for the public and young audiences, including short film screenings at cinemas, universities, and film institutions; the "Cinema in Schools" program for high school and university students; a film poster design competition; an educational trailer creation contest; and training workshops on the application of AI in filmmaking.
One of the Festival's major highlights this year is the "Nurturing Film Talent" – HCMC Short Form Film Lab (SFFL). The program supports the development of promising short film projects through a series of in-depth activities, including masterclasses on emerging filmmaking trends, AI-powered film production techniques, story and concept development, project mentoring, pitching sessions before an expert panel, and production networking opportunities.
“Nurturing Film Talent” – HCMC Short Form Film Lab
This year's Festival continues to expand its call for entries beyond Ho Chi Minh City to filmmakers from provinces and cities across Vietnam, encouraging submissions in the categories of fiction, documentary, and animation that reflect the contemporary pulse of Vietnamese society while demonstrating creativity and humanistic values.
According to the Organizing Committee, many of the Festival's activities are designed in accordance with international standards, strengthening connections with film organizations, creative funding bodies, industry experts, and international film festivals. These efforts aim to provide young Vietnamese filmmakers with greater access to the global film ecosystem.
Through the 2nd Ho Chi Minh City Short Film Festival, Ho Chi Minh City continues to reaffirm its commitment to developing cinema as a key cultural industry, contributing to the growth of the creative economy, strengthening the City of Film brand, and fostering a creative urban environment that places culture and people at its core.