A new collaboration between Varan Vietnam, Still_thinking_space, and p.artspace has officially launched with a screening titled Looking Back – Reincarnation, opening a series of film presentations featuring works by directors from the Varan Vietnam community.

Cinema as a Journey of Awakening

The screening series known as CinEscape was born from a conviction: that through cinema, emotional points of connection become visible. That only through the visual perspective can people awaken their remaining senses, reaching back into the past to rediscover the values that have shaped who they are in this era.

Three Films, Three Perspectives on Life

The first screening presented three short documentary films, each a distinct journey yet sharing the same spirit: observing life through a direct, unjudging gaze.

Grave diggers for hire (33 mins), directed and filmed by Nguyễn Ánh, brings viewers closer to a tradition rarely spoken of in modern urban life. The film was edited by Tạ Minh Đức, with sound carried out collectively by Lê Thị Thắm, Nguyễn Văn Thanh, Trần Thị Phương Thảo, Nguyễn Hồ Bảo Nghi, Mỹ Đức, and Cầm Đức Hiệp.

Bao’s playtime (26 mins), directed by Thắng Phạm Đức, is a portrait of a person and the living space they inhabit. The film was edited by Swann Dubus, with sound recorded collectively by all participants.

Long is the road (30 mins), directed and filmed by Đoàn Hồng Lê, closes the screening with a long journey along unnamed roads. Sound was handled by Bia Y Zell, and the film was edited by Phan Dịu Hiền.

A Collaboration Rooted in Community Spirit

The presence of Still_thinking_space and p.artspace alongside Varan Vietnam signals that CinEscape is more than a simple film screening program. It is an effort to connect independent documentary cinema with art spaces and communities, creating a place where films can be watched, felt, and discussed in the way they truly deserve.

Looking Back – Reincarnation is the first step. And with that spirit, CinEscape promises many more screenings to come, continuing to bring the works of Varan Vietnam’s directors closer to their audience.