artLIVE – On August 6, the 6th season of the CJ Short Film Project officially announced the Top 5 outstanding projects, selected from over 400 submissions received by the program.
Unveiling the Top 5 standout short film projects of CJ season 6
At the event, 12 young directors took turns presenting their ideas and execution plans for their short film projects to the Jury, which included some of the most prominent names in Vietnamese cinema: directors Phan Dang Di, Charlie Nguyen, Tran Thanh Huy, Trinh Dinh Le Minh, and producer Tran Thi Bich Ngoc.
After a thorough evaluation of the scripts, the creativity of each approach, and the feasibility of the projects, the Jury selected the 5 most outstanding projects to receive production funding, with a total value of up to 1.5 billion VND (300 million VND for each project).
Finalists:
- Vu Trung Duc – Những Ngày Xanh Thẳm (The Deep Blue Days)
- Le Hoang – Lạch Cạch (Clattering)
- Nguyen Duy Anh – Made in Vietnam
- Cam Duc Hiep – Behind The Sin
- Nguyen Thien An – Giấc Mơ Là Ốc Sên (The Snail’s Dream)
CJ Short Film Project – A launchpad for talented directors
Once selected, the 5 finalists will enter a three-month production phase, guided and mentored by members of the Jury. The films are expected to be completed by the end of 2025 and will also receive financial support to apply for prestigious international film festivals.
It is noteworthy that among this year’s 400+ applicants, many familiar faces have been persistently participating in the program for several seasons. Regardless of the outcome, their unwavering dedication, passion for cinema, and growth over the years have contributed to the long-term value of the CJ Short Film Project’s mission to nurture talent. This is a generation of bold, ambitious, and passionate young directors with the potential to bring Vietnamese cinema to the global stage.
Sharing his thoughts on this year’s entries, director Trinh Đinh Le Minh, a Jury member, said: “After many years accompanying the program, I am truly impressed by the remarkable progress of these young directors. They not only possess mature and creative storytelling skills but also present their ideas with confidence and clarity, fully conveying their vision.”
In addition to the total funding of 1.5 billion VND and international film festival participation costs, the Top 5 directors of CJ Short Film Project 2025 will receive full technical and post-production support from sponsors HK Film and Pixelsgarden.
Before filming begins, the directors will take part in an intensive filmmaking training course led by instructors from the Korean Academy of Film Arts and top Vietnamese cinema experts.
Since its launch in 2018, the CJ Short Film Project co-organized by CJ Cultural Foundation and CGV Vietnam has supported the production of 25 short films by young Vietnamese directors. Many of these works have been recognized at prestigious international film festivals such as Cannes, Venice, Berlin, Locarno, and Singapore.
Several alumni have achieved international recognition with their first feature films, including directors Pham Thien An, Pham Ngoc Lan, and Duong Dieu Linh. Most recently, in July, director Doan Si Nguyen (Season 4) released his debut feature film ‘Dieu Uoc Cuoi Cung’ (The Last Wish), funded and distributed by CGV, marking an important milestone in his career.
These achievements affirm that the CJ Short Film Project is not only a professional platform but also a launchpad that nurtures a golden generation of talented young directors, helping Vietnamese cinema reach new heights on the world stage.
Photos: CJ Vietnam
