Santa Ana, CA – February 2, 2026 — The Vietnamese American Arts and Letters Association (VAALA) is proud to announce the official dates and Call for Entries for Viet Film Fest 2026, marking the festival’s 23rd year of celebrating Vietnamese storytelling and culture in film.
The festival will feature three days of in-person screenings and events from October 9–11, 2026, at The Frida Cinema in Downtown Santa Ana, complemented by a virtual festival experience that will allow audiences nationwide and worldwide to engage with selected films.
Since its founding, Viet Film Fest (VFF) has served as a vital platform for emerging and established filmmakers to share stories that reflect the diversity, creativity, and lived experiences of Vietnamese communities around the world. As the longest-running and largest Vietnamese international film festival in the diaspora, VFF remains committed to uplifting voices from Vietnam and the global Vietnamese community through both in-person and online programming.
“Viet Film Fest has always been rooted in community,” says Eric Nong, Artistic Director of Viet Film Fest. “For over two decades, VFF has been driven by the dedication of our filmmakers, volunteers, community partners, and audience. As we celebrate our seventeenth edition, we continue our mission to advocate for Vietnamese voices in cinema from the past, from our present, and for the future.”
Key Dates for Viet Film Fest 2026
- Call for Entries, Early Bird Deadline: April 15, 2026
- Call for Entries, Final Deadline: May 5, 2026
- Virtual Festival: Dates to be Announced
- In-Person Screenings: October 9–11, 2026
Call for Entries
Viet Film Fest is seeking films by filmmakers of Vietnamese descent and/or films that center on the Vietnamese experience. Submissions in all genres and formats are welcome. Special discounted submission rates are available for students with valid identification.
Filmmakers interested in submitting their work or learning more about Viet Film Fest 2026 can visit: https://filmfreeway.com/VietFilmFest.
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About Viet Film Fest:
Viet Film Fest was created in 2003 by the Vietnamese American Arts & Letters Association (VAALA), becoming its largest program. As the largest international Vietnamese film festival of its kind in the diaspora, Viet Film Fest showcases the best creative work by and about Vietnamese people. Through the universal language of film, Viet Film Fest brings together multiple perspectives to expand the scope and horizons of Vietnamese cinema. As the hub of the Vietnamese movie industry, the festival hosts networking opportunities with prominent directors, media experts, and producers. We are proud to provide a central platform that empowers filmmakers of Vietnamese descent to tell their stories in their own voices
About VAALA:
Founded in 1991 by Vietnamese American journalists, artists and community members to fill a void and provide a space for artists to express themselves as a newly resettled immigrant community, the mission of the Vietnamese American Arts & Letters Association (VAALA) is to connect and enrich communities through Vietnamese arts and culture. Celebrating its 30th year of service, VAALA collaborates with diverse community partners to organize community-centered artistic cultural events, including art exhibitions, book signings, music recitals, plays and its annual Viet Film Fest, Viet Book Fest, art exhibitions, and community art programs. More information about VAALA on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
Press Contact:
Corey Linh
Communication and Outreach Manager
info@vaala.org
Minh Pham
Viet Film Fest Public Relations Manager
press@vaala.org
