The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Vietnam has officially announced that the historical epic "Ho Linh Trang Si" (The Guardians of the Dinh Dynasty), directed by Nguyen Phan Quang Binh, has been selected to represent Vietnam at the 99th Academy Awards. The film will compete in the highly competitive "Best International Feature Film" category, a prestigious recognition for a production that has spent over a decade in development and historical research.
This selection marks another milestone in the Vietnamese film industry’s ongoing effort to gain international visibility on the global stage. As the industry prepares for the 2027 Oscars ceremony, scheduled for March 14, 2027, the submission of "Ho Linh Trang Si" reflects a strategic push to showcase Vietnamese cultural heritage through high-budget, historically-themed cinematic storytelling.
Chronology of Production and Selection
The journey of "Ho Linh Trang Si" is one characterized by meticulous, albeit challenging, development. According to producer Bich Hanh, the creative team spent over ten years conceptualizing the film. Because primary source materials regarding the daily life and social structures of the Dinh Dynasty (10th century) are scarce, the production team relied heavily on consultations with leading historians and archeologists.
The film’s trajectory leading up to the Oscar submission has been marked by international exposure:
- Early 2020s: The production team begins extensive research into the Dinh Dynasty, focusing on architectural accuracy, period-appropriate costumes, and the socio-political climate of the era.
- Mid-2026: The film holds its premiere, generating significant public interest and box office traction, eventually grossing over 38 billion VND (approximately $1.5 million USD).
- August 30, 2026: In response to audience and critical feedback regarding pacing, a revised 135-minute version of the film is released, shortening the original runtime by 20 minutes to improve narrative flow.
- September 2026: "Ho Linh Trang Si" makes its international debut at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) in Canada, where it was featured in the "Gala Presentation" section and competed for the "People’s Choice Award."
- Late September 2026: The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism confirms the selection of the film for the 99th Academy Awards submission process.
Technical and Narrative Scope
Set against the backdrop of the assassination of Emperor Dinh Tien Hoang, the film follows a group of elite guardians tasked with the perilous mission of protecting the royal remains during a period of political instability. The narrative serves as both a historical thriller and a tribute to the craftsmanship of ancient artisans.
The film has garnered praise for its visual scale. Director Nguyen Phan Quang Binh utilized the dramatic limestone landscapes of Ninh Binh to evoke the grandeur of 10th-century Vietnam. Technical highlights include:
- Choreography: Under the guidance of action director Johnny Tri Nguyen, the film features complex, high-velocity fight sequences that emphasize period-appropriate weaponry and martial arts styles.
- Production Design: The team invested heavily in recreating the aesthetics of the Dinh Dynasty, including intricate lighting designs for festivals and the careful curation of period-accurate props.
- Stunt Coordination: In several sequences, the production successfully managed the movement of over 40 horses simultaneously, a feat rarely attempted in contemporary Vietnamese historical cinema.
Despite its visual ambition, the film faced criticism regarding its script depth. Some viewers noted that the character arcs felt secondary to the spectacle, and the relationship between the lead characters—Nguyen Phong (played by Tuan Tran) and An Nhien (played by Thien Tu)—suffered from a lack of emotional development due to time constraints. The subsequent 135-minute cut was a direct response to these critiques, focusing on tightening the storytelling and reducing redundant dialogue.
The Academy Award Submission Process
The selection process for the Best International Feature Film is rigorous. Each country may submit only one film for consideration. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) requires that submissions meet specific criteria, including:
- Technical Compliance: Production houses must provide a Digital Cinema Package (DCP) and a print with English subtitles.
- Deadline Adherence: The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism is responsible for submitting all necessary documentation, including the final technical specifications, by the October 1st deadline.
- Vetting: Once submitted, the Academy will announce a long-list of eligible entries, followed by a short-list of semi-finalists later in the year.
The nomination of "Ho Linh Trang Si" follows the precedent set by previous Vietnamese submissions, such as "Mua Do" (The Burning of the Field), which represented Vietnam in the 2026 Oscar race. These submissions are viewed as part of a larger government initiative to promote Vietnam’s cultural industry as a viable economic and creative export.
Implications for the Vietnamese Film Industry
The international selection of "Ho Linh Trang Si" carries several implications for the domestic market. First, it underscores a growing trend of "prestige" filmmaking in Vietnam, where studios are increasingly willing to invest in long-term research and development for historical projects.
Second, the reception at festivals like TIFF suggests that there is an international appetite for Southeast Asian historical epics, provided they maintain high production values. However, the internal debate over the film’s narrative pacing and script depth serves as a learning opportunity for local producers. The ability to pivot—as seen with the release of the 135-minute version—demonstrates a maturing industry that is more responsive to both market feedback and critical analysis.
The film’s focus on the Dinh Dynasty, a pivotal era in Vietnamese history, also serves a diplomatic function, acting as a soft-power tool to introduce international audiences to Vietnam’s complex past. By highlighting the craftsmanship, traditional values, and historical narratives of the 10th century, "Ho Linh Trang Si" attempts to bridge the gap between local folk memory and global cinematic standards.
Conclusion and Future Outlook
As the 99th Academy Awards approach, the pressure on the "Ho Linh Trang Si" team is significant. While the competition in the Best International Feature Film category is notoriously stiff—often featuring highly acclaimed works from established European and Asian cinema hubs—the inclusion of the film in the official selection is already a victory for the production team.
Moving forward, the success of this submission will likely influence future funding and creative decisions in the Vietnamese film industry. If the film performs well in the preliminary rounds, it may encourage further investment in historical dramas, potentially leading to a new wave of "made-in-Vietnam" cinema that balances blockbuster-level production with more nuanced, character-driven storytelling. For now, the eyes of the domestic industry remain fixed on the Academy’s upcoming announcements, hopeful that the story of the Dinh Dynasty’s guardians will resonate with a global audience.
