From a creative playground to a key milestone in Ho Chi Minh City's journey toward becoming a UNESCO Creative City of Film. After five vibrant days of professional activities, networking sessions, film screenings, and international exchanges, the 2nd Ho Chi Minh City Short Film Festival 2026 came to a close, leaving a lasting impression on the filmmaking community and audiences who love the art of cinema. More than an annual cultural event, the Festival is steadily establishing itself as a platform for discovering, nurturing, and supporting the next generation of filmmakers.
The 2nd Ho Chi Minh City Short Film Festival 2026 – A launchpad for emerging filmmaking talent
1. Inspiring Young Creativity, Shaping the Future of the City's Film Industry
Under the theme “Inspiring Young Creativity – Building the City of Film,” the 2nd Ho Chi Minh City Short Film Festival 2026 was organized with the vision of creating an open creative environment where new ideas are welcomed, young perspectives are celebrated, and future filmmaking talents are given opportunities to grow.
As the cultural industries are increasingly recognized as one of Ho Chi Minh City's new drivers of economic growth, investing in creative human resources—particularly young filmmakers—has become a strategic priority. In this context, the Short Film Festival serves not only as a competition for outstanding works, but also as a space for professional practice, community building, and inspiration for young creators embarking on their filmmaking careers.
The Short Film Festival is not only a competition for films but also a platform for community engagement and inspiration for young talent
This year, the Festival attracted more than 100 entries across the categories of fiction, documentary, and animation. Following the selection process, 46 films advanced to the final round. The selected works explored a wide range of contemporary issues, including culture, history, the environment, education, and stories reflecting the people and aspirations of Vietnamese society today.
One of the Festival's most notable highlights was the maturity demonstrated by many of the participating works in terms of storytelling, cinematic language, and the application of new technologies. Many young filmmakers boldly experimented with contemporary creative approaches, expanding the expressive possibilities of short films in the digital age.
2. Outstanding Works Honored
At the closing ceremony of the 2nd Ho Chi Minh City Short Film Festival, a total of 43 awards were presented to outstanding individuals and organizations in recognition of the creative achievements of filmmakers from across Vietnam.
In the film categories, the First Prize was awarded to three outstanding works:
- _ "Karma" – Directed by Pham Huu Tri (Fiction)
- _ "The Sower of Vietnamese Aspirations" – Directed by Do Thoan (Documentary)
- _ "The Miraculous Homecoming" – Directed by Dao Minh Uyen (Animation)
The three First Prize winners at the 2nd Ho Chi Minh City Short Film Festival
These films were highly praised by the Jury for their artistic excellence, humanistic messages, and distinctive storytelling approaches.
The Second Prize winners included the fiction film "Behind the Soldier", the documentary "The Doctor on the Island Commune", and the animated film "Survival". Numerous other works were also recognized with Third Prize and Encouragement Awards.
The three Second Prize winners at the 2nd Ho Chi Minh City Short Film Festival
The Third Prize was awarded to eight films: As If There Were No Anchor, The Scream, and The Colors of Mang Thit (Fiction); Two Lives in the Sound of Bells and Grandfather Du (Documentary); and Against the Current, Stirring the Void, and Mandarin Orange (Animation).
In the individual award categories, Director Phan Bao Tuan received the Best Director Award for "As If There Were No Anchor," while Ho Minh Khoa won the Best Screenplay Award for "The Scream." Awards for acting, cinematography, music, and production design also recognized many promising young talents, reflecting the growing diversity and strength of Vietnam's emerging filmmaking community.
3. More Than an Awards Ceremony: Building a Sustainable Ecosystem for Young Filmmakers
One of the defining features of the 2nd Ho Chi Minh City Short Film Festival was its vision of extending beyond the scope of a traditional film competition.
Throughout this year's Festival, a wide range of professional activities were organized, including seminars, panel discussions, networking sessions with domestic and international experts, specialized masterclasses, and, notably, the HCMC Short Form Film Lab 2026—a talent incubator designed to support emerging filmmakers.
Following a rigorous selection process and intensive mentorship, participating projects were not only refined in terms of content, screenplay structure, and production strategy, but also given the opportunity to pitch their ideas before an expert panel, creating valuable connections for the future development of their projects.
At the closing ceremony, the Organizing Committee honored the most outstanding projects from the program. The First Prize was awarded to "The Human Life Tea House", directed by Tran Xuan Mai. The Second Prize went to "The Room and the Missing Drops", directed by Le Ho Bao Ngoc. Two projects received Third Prize: "Why Is Tran So Gloomy?", directed by Ha Tat Thanh, and "Peach Blossom", directed by Dinh Hoang Long.
The four award-winning projects of the Short Form Film Lab program
These initiatives have helped create a comprehensive support ecosystem where young filmmakers are given opportunities not only to showcase their work, but also to learn, network, explore emerging filmmaking trends, and gradually develop their projects.
This reflects the long-term vision that Ho Chi Minh City is pursuing in building its UNESCO Creative City of Film identity: developing cinema not only through outstanding films, but also through investment in talent, creative communities, and international collaboration.
4. A Significant Step in Fulfilling Ho Chi Minh City's Commitments to UNESCO
The successful organization of the 2nd Ho Chi Minh City Short Film Festival demonstrates the city's concrete efforts to implement its commitments as a member of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network.
By creating opportunities for young filmmakers, expanding access to professional development, encouraging creativity, and strengthening international collaboration, the Festival is gradually becoming an integral part of Ho Chi Minh City's strategy to develop both its film industry and broader cultural and creative industries.
The films honored this year are not only the result of dedicated artistic effort, but also a promising indication that a new generation of Vietnamese filmmakers is emerging—one characterized by open-minded thinking, creative confidence, and a strong aspiration for international integration.
As the second edition of the Festival comes to a close, the awards presented may mark the end of a competition, but they also represent the beginning of many new cinematic journeys. Through the stories told on screen today, Ho Chi Minh City is steadily cultivating the creative resources of tomorrow, moving closer to its vision of becoming a dynamic film hub for the region and the world.