HCM CITY — Two Vietnamese short films will compete at the Singapore International Film Festival (SGIFF) next month, joining a regional showcase of emerging Southeast Asian filmmakers.

The films, Lê Hoàng’s Lạch Cạch (Through the Cracks) and Vũ Trung Đức’s Những Ngày Xanh Thẳm (Blue Days), are among 24 works selected for the Southeast Asian Short Film Competition at the festival, which runs from October 21 to November 1.

Director Lê Hoàng’s Through the Cracks, a 14-minute film, revolves around a groom-to-be who begins to hear crackling sounds in his head, as if something is coming loose, shortly before his wedding day.

The noise grows louder, making him panic and forcing him to confront a deeply buried truth about himself.

“Through the Cracks does not just tell a story but also explores anxiety, unease and the inner conflicts within each person,” Hoàng said.

The 20-minute Blue Days, directed by Vũ Trung Đức, tells the story of a teenager and his friend during early adolescence. While both seek ways to escape school bullies, they uncover a buried story.

 “Blue Days was shaped by my perception of youth during my younger years, when people do not yet fully understand the world but have begun to envision a vast future," Đức said.

“For me, the past is a nurturing grace, as well as a curse of regret. If there is still hope for the future, both can turn out to be beautiful.”

Both films will compete for Best Southeast Asian Short Film, the Special Jury Prize, Best Director and Best Performance at the 2026 SGIFF.

They will also have their world premieres on October 28 during the festival.

Founded in 1987, SGIFF is the longest-running film festival in Singapore, showcasing independent cinema from around the world, with a particular focus on Southeast Asian films. 

This year’s festival features over 100 films from more than 50 countries. It also will include discussion sessions with filmmakers and actors from Asia, as well as forums for filmmakers and industry professionals to exchange ideas.

Through the Cracks and Blue Days are among the five winners of the 2025 CJ Short Film Project, a national programme supporting short-film projects.

The CJ Short Film Project was launched by the CJ Cultural Foundation and CJ CGV Vietnam in 2018 to nurture emerging filmmakers and help bring their works to international film festivals.

Over seven seasons, the programme has funded the production of 35 films and supported 37 young directors in developing their filmmaking careers.

Many directors from the programme have been nominated for and won awards at more than 60 international film festivals, including Phạm Ngọc Lân at the Berlin International Film Festival and Phạm Thiên Ân and Nguyễn Thiên Ân at the Cannes Film Festival. — VNS