Despite this success, experts say Vietnamese films still lack important things for long-term growth.

A panel discussion called The role of young filmmakers in shaping Vietnamese cinema was held during the launch of a short film competition.

The forum brought together film experts, directors, and government representatives to talk about Vietnam's film industry.

They discussed opportunities and challenges for young filmmakers and found weaknesses in the country's film system.

The market is growing but needs new talent.

Vietnamese films made about 3.65 trillion VND in 2025, almost double the 1.9 trillion VND in 2024.

Dr. Ngo Phuong Lan said the outlook for Vietnamese cinema is hopeful.

She said the industry has good conditions for growth, including investment and a growing market.

But she thinks the biggest weakness is finding and training young talent.

Dr. Lan said many things are needed for a film industry to succeed, but people are the most important.

Director Nguyen Quang Dung agreed that the industry lacks human resources.

He said the lack of creativity, talent, and competition is a problem.

He thinks competition is crucial for a dynamic market that can attract talent and drive growth.

The industry needs more than just directors and actors.

Director Hong Anh said Vietnamese cinema lacks a balanced development system.

She said a strong film industry needs development in many areas, not just talented directors or actors.

Director Ham Tran said the film market needs younger filmmakers' voices.

He thinks films are more emotional when directors tell personal stories.

Experts agree that Vietnamese cinema is growing strongly and has untapped potential.

In 2025, Vietnamese films took over 60% of the domestic market, while Hollywood films took less than 20%.

The industry saw more diverse themes and new filmmakers, and experimented with technology and AI.

But experts warned that growth cannot rely on temporary trends or short-term success.

They emphasized the need for investment in film quality and long-term development of future filmmakers.

The industry is looking for the next generation of filmmakers.

The Vietnamese 2026 short film competition is a platform for emerging filmmakers.

The competition aims to give young creators opportunities to tell their stories through cinema.

The organizer, Thanh Nien Newspaper, wants to help discover and support new filmmaking talent.

The competition will honor outstanding works and help young filmmakers gain recognition and career opportunities.

Dr. Ngo Phuong Lan will lead the jury panel.

The jury includes director Ham Tran, actress-director Hong Anh, and journalist Lam Hieu Dung.

The competition is open to filmmakers aged 15 and older, including Vietnamese citizens and foreign nationals.

Submitted films must be under 30 minutes and relate to Vietnam and its people.

Contestants can submit films they directed or wrote that have not been in other competitions.

Films made entirely by artificial intelligence will not be accepted.

Tuan Chieu