Held from September 29 to October 2, the festival was part of activities marking the 50th anniversary of the Ho Chi Minh City University of Theatre and Cinema’s training and education career.
The event aims to build a cinematic space for young filmmakers, where works are screened, compete for awards, and provide opportunities to meet audiences and cinema professionals, while also creating opportunities to connect with the film production environment and market.
According to the organising committee, 135 short films were submitted to the festival in three categories: short fiction films, short documentaries and animated films (under 30 minutes in length, completed from January 1, 2024 to 2026) by students and former students who graduated no more than three years ago from universities and colleges in Ho Chi Minh City.
Following the selection process, 31 works were chosen for the official competition and subsequently evaluated by a Jury comprising reputable experts in the field of cinema, with the judging process conducted independently and confidentially.
It is known that the 31 short films selected for the official competition were screened in four screenings on September 30 and October 1 at the Youth World Theatre of the Ho Chi Minh City University of Theatre and Cinema.
In addition, the festival featured Panorama programmes, French and Vietnamese short films, and special screenings under “A cinematic perspective”, including three foreign feature films.
As Ho Chi Minh City is promoting its role as a City of Film within the UNESCO Creative Cities Network, the Youth Cinefest has become a space connecting education and training, creativity and practical activities in cinema, creating opportunities for young filmmakers to access exchanges and cooperation.
The companionship of UNESCO and the French Institute in Viet Nam – Embassy of France in Viet Nam as strategic partners has contributed to expanding international connections, bringing the voices and works of young Vietnamese filmmakers closer to the regional and global film community.
From completed works to projects under development, the festival creates meeting points for young filmmakers, audiences, experts and producers within the film ecosystem, thereby contributing to expanding opportunities for learning, creativity and professional development for the next generation of filmmakers.
