In 2025, a quiet yet meaningful movement began within Vietnam’s social impact creative community. With over 100 film submissions, 18 community projects proposed, 12 winning teams, and 2 representatives entering the international stage, the program showed that meaningful stories have a lasting appeal.
Building on that foundation, a new chapter named Inspiring Vietnam 2026 officially opened on May 24, 2026, in Ho Chi Minh City. Centered around the theme of "Community Empowerment," this year’s campaign invites filmmakers and social organizations across the country to use storytelling to create practical value.
Organized by the Nguyen-Phuong Foundation alongside strategic partners UFO Entertainment, Chỉ, Fulbright University Vietnam, and the Center for Vietnamese Studies - the 2026 season offers an equal platform for both independent storytellers and community changemakers.
"Empowerment," From Inner Strength to Collective Force
This year's theme reframes empowerment as a process in which individuals cultivate their own capacities and combine them with collective resources to actively shape the future. Organizers stress that a sustainable community is not defined solely by geography or cultural identity, but by a sense of belonging, mutual empathy, and shared support among its members.
Real change, the brief argues, begins when each person recognizes their own value, and then channels that recognition into common action and stories that move others. Inspiring Vietnam 2026 is therefore looking for cinematic works and social projects capable of illuminating real-world conditions, dismantling stereotypes, and inspiring communities to move toward a better future together.
Speaking on behalf of the organizing committee, Jeremy Nguyễn-Phương, Director of the Nguyễn-Phương Family Foundation, said: "We believe every authentic story can create positive change. With Inspiring Vietnam 2026, we are looking for talented filmmakers who can move audiences through sharp cinematic language, and at the same time discover social practitioners with meaningful initiatives. Every short film or project submitted becomes a seed that helps communities confidently develop their inner strength and take ownership of their future. We hope Inspiring Vietnam will become a journey of lasting connection, spreading positive values for a better Vietnam."
Not Just For Filmmakers
Organized by the Nguyen-Phuong Foundation in partnership with strategic partners including UFO Entertainment, Chỉ, Fulbright University Vietnam, and the Center for Vietnamese Studies, the 2026 season offers an equal playing field for both independent storytellers and changemaking organizations.
This year’s awards system is divided into two specialized launchpads backed by practical financial funding:
Outstanding Short Film Category
Exclusive to individual filmmakers or filmmaking groups aged 18 and above.
- Top 6 Outstanding Short Films: Will receive a grant of $2,000 USD per team.
- 01 Most Promising Director Award: Valued at $1,000 USD.
Outstanding Project Category
Open to school clubs, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), social enterprises, or legally incorporated entities.
- Top 3 Outstanding Projects: Will receive a grant of $4,000 USD per team to directly sustain or scale up their project.
- 01 Most Promising Project Award: Valued at $1,000 USD.
- 01 Audience Choice Award: Valued at $1,000 USD.
A Jury Of Vietnamese Cinema And Social Impact Leaders
The 2026 jury brings together established figures from contemporary Vietnamese cinema and seasoned practitioners in social development, ensuring rigor and depth across both categories.
For the Short Film category, the jury features three of the most distinctive voices in current Vietnamese filmmaking: director Trịnh Đình Lê Minh, known for Goodbye Mother (Thưa Mẹ Con Đi) and Once Upon a Time There Was a Love Story (Ngày Xưa Có Một Chuyện Tình); director Chung Chí Công, behind Thank You for Staying Up With Me (Cảm Ơn Người Đã Thức Cùng Tôi); and documentary director Hà Lệ Diễm, whose Children of the Mist (Những Đứa Trẻ Trong Sương) brought Vietnamese non-fiction filmmaking to international attention. Together, they will evaluate not just technical craft but the human sensibility and storytelling instincts of the next generation of Vietnamese filmmakers.
The Project category is judged by experts with deep experience in social work and sustainable development. The panel includes Nguyễn Phương Lam, Chairman of the Nguyễn-Phương Family Foundation; Phạm Kiều Oanh, founder of CSIP and a leading authority on social enterprise in Vietnam; and Sơn Phạm, Director of Tình Thân, with more than 26 years in the NGO sector.
The 2026 jury brings together established figures from contemporary Vietnamese cinema and seasoned practitioners in social development, ensuring rigor and depth across both categories.
For the Short Film category, the jury features three of the most distinctive voices in current Vietnamese filmmaking: director Trịnh Đình Lê Minh, known for Goodbye Mother (Thưa Mẹ Con Đi) and Once Upon a Time There Was a Love Story (Ngày Xưa Có Một Chuyện Tình); director Chung Chí Công, behind Thank You for Staying Up With Me (Cảm Ơn Người Đã Thức Cùng Tôi); and documentary director Hà Lệ Diễm, whose Children of the Mist (Những Đứa Trẻ Trong Sương) brought Vietnamese non-fiction filmmaking to international attention. Together, they will evaluate not just technical craft but the human sensibility and storytelling instincts of the next generation of Vietnamese filmmakers.
A Calling For Restless Hearts
Spanning across its seasons, the ultimate destination of Inspiring Vietnam is to build a sustainable ecosystem, a space where filmmakers, social organizations, and community resources meet to spark meaningful dialogues. The core mission of the program is to celebrate the power of storytelling, spread humanistic values, and provide individuals and organizations with the added momentum to contribute to the collective development of society.
The submission portal is now officially wide open. If you are holding an evocative story or a practical solution for society, let Inspiring Vietnam 2026 walk alongside you.
- Submission Deadline: July 25, 2026
- Results Announcement: Late August 2026
Detailed Rules and Regulations: [CLICK HERE].
About Inspiring VietnamInspiring Vietnam is an initiative within the broader Inspiring Asia short film festival, which is currently active in eight countries and territories. The program is organized by the Nguyễn-Phương Foundation with the goal of connecting the art of cinema with practical social action in Vietnam.Through creative and connective activities, Inspiring Vietnam works to build a sustainable ecosystem in which filmmakers, social organizations, and community resources can meet to spark meaningful dialogue. The program's mission is to celebrate the power of storytelling, spread humanistic values, and empower individuals and organizations to contribute to society's shared development.