The Oscar-Qualifying HollyShorts Film Festival recently wrapped this month, and two films that I viewed from filmmaker Oanh-Nhi Nguyen are awe-inspiring. She is an AFI Conservatory MFA graduate. Both of her films were screened at the TCL Chinese Theater earlier this month. With the actions seen in the news and on social media platforms regarding immigration and deportation, the stories are both relevant and timely, no matter where they hail from. This emerging Vietnamese director is one to keep on your radar for impactful screenplays that provide insight into the reality that many are living. The films are titled The Stand and Little Bird.
The Stand had its World Premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival (IMDb) earlier this summer and now had its West Coast debut at the Hollyshorts Film Festival.
The Stand (About): When her mother is forced to leave their family’s bustling food stand, a determined immigrant girl must team up with her pesky kid brother to keep things running and earn enough to give their mom a rare night off to attend her choir concert.
The performances by the cast are authentic, as is the story of what street vendors may encounter (in any city), especially when there are inebriated pedestrians who pass by and pretend to be actual customers but have other intentions.
This film is to be part of Indeed Rising Voices, according to the press announcement. Five directors will be highlighted in Season 5 on Hulu this fall/winter, with the exact date to be determined. According to the Indeed Rising Voices website, the information is not yet available for Season 5. This film is worth following on their website/HULU for future viewing.
Little Bird (About) – In 1980s Los Angeles, a disillusioned Vietnamese woman who carries out evictions (for a company/landlord) faces a moral crisis when ordered to evict Vietnamese refugees, forcing her to choose between her job and standing in solidarity with a community that could reconnect her to home.
Cinematographer Timothy Shin does excellent work throughout the film, capturing both wide and close shots. The performance by the young actress, Jolie Eden as Thuy, is outstanding, especially in her interaction with Linh Tran (Chantal Thuy). Based on actual events. This short is a terrific film to watch and to learn about some history that is not well-known.
The short captured the Jury Award for Best Student Short at Cinequest 2025 and earned a Remi Award at WorldFest Houston (via filmmaker website).
Her website has more information. https://www.oanhnhinguyen.com/
Source: IMDb, filmmaker, Hollyshorts, WorldFest.org