Touching viewers’ hearts and completely winning over the judges, the short film The Sweetness That Remains, by the DTU Silver Swallows Studio, was awarded the Best Screenplay Award at the closing and awards ceremony of the second season of the Vietnamese Short Film competition on the topic “Vietnamese 2025”. The contest was organized by Thanh Nien newspaper in collaboration with the Vietnam Film Development Association and Sandisk Vietnam on August 21, 2025, in Ho Chi Minh City.
Representatives of the DTU Silver Swallows Studio film crew receiving the Best Screenplay Award
Ho Minh Hieu was the talented screenwriter for The Sweetness That Remains. She treasures family bonds and is always aware of the deep affection of loved ones, which spurred her to skillfully use a Danang full of affection as backdrop to vividly portray the precious love between father and child.
“Family love is something sacred and it’s an endless source of inspiration,” Minh Hieu explains. “Many works extolling the bond between mother and child have become iconic and evoke a wide range of emotions in audiences. In this piece, I wanted to broaden that perspective to highlight a father’s love, filled with worries, quiet sacrifices, and things that are rarely spoken of yet vital for a happy family. My inspiration came from everyday-life stories - small but genuine shards that, when pieced together, form a rich emotional picture that you can make a movie from.
“It’s just a short film, but The Sweetness That Remains was actually a joint journey. After I completed the script, my team and I worked on production methods: from framing and camera angles to developing the characters’ psychology - to fully convey the film’s spirit and message. I’m fortunate with my colleagues, especially director Thai Bao Long, who listened with all his heart to fully understand the script and to translate it into cinematic language with great sensitivity.”
Minh Hieu while filming The Sweetness That Remains
Having put their hearts into the short, the Silver Swallows Studio submitted The Sweetness That Remains to season 2 of the Vietnamese Short Film contest. It was selected among 20 finalists out of 128 submissions.
Among the entries that left a strong emotional impression, DTU’s The Sweetness That Remains truly touched viewers’ hearts. It is about Mr Kien, a bus driver in Danang, on the final trip of his career. On the eve of his retirement, he has a special passenger, Mr Thanh, who does not have a specific destination but simply wishes to ride through the streets and take one last look at his beloved city. What begins as a seemingly ordinary ride gradually turns into a deeply emotional journey - a reflection on a father’s love for his daughter. When the ride ends, what remains is not only the image of Danang’s blue sea, white sands, and familiar roads, but also the warm memories of humanity, connection, and love always the sweetest things.
Emotional scenes from the film
The deeply human message of The Sweetness That Remains was beautifully conveyed through Thai Bao Long’s sensitive and evocative cinematography. Using the language of cinema, he breathed life into the screenplay, successfully translating the story through every camera angle, by how he fully captures each glance and gesture. The harmony between screenwriter, director, and sound created gentle, lingering moments that stay long after the screen goes dark.
“I’m truly proud that Ms Ho Minh Hieu received the Best Screenplay Award,” Bao Long says. “It’s a well-deserved recognition for her dedication. Her script is emotional, authentic, and rich in detail, serving as a strong foundation for the film’s success. The award is not only a joy for Ms Hieu personally; it’s also a powerful motivation that affirms the artistic value and human message our crew wished to deliver.
“When I received the idea, my job wasn’t just to translate the text into visuals; it required an overall vision from ideas for each camera angle, close coordination with the director of photography, and a focus on creating the film’s atmosphere through lighting and color to highlight the characters’ emotional states. Synergy between screenwriter and director is essential. We maintained open communication to preserve the film’s core of humanity and human emotion. As a self-taught director, I faced many challenges concerning process and budget. But thanks to the strong support and investment from DTU and the contributions of DTU lecturers and students of medicine & pharmacy, Multimedia Communication, and Graphic Design, we completed a film that met with a lot of appreciation.”
The short film The Sweetness That Remains
DTU’s Silver Swallows Studio is known for its production of a great many high-quality and award-winning films that have been screened in theaters:
- top five Outstanding Game Projects (no first, second, third, or fourth prizes awarded) at GameHub 2025 with Hoi An Kien Su, a technological product offering a VR experience through the Oculus Quest headset, recreating the ancient town of Hoi An and a cultural depth of 400 years ago. The project includes the historical wedding of Princess Ngoc Hoa with Japanese merchant Araki Sotaro,
- theatrical release of the documentary film The First Swallows in 2019, recreating the historic Battle of Thanh Hoa Bridge between the Vietnam People’s Air Force and the US Air Force and Navy,
- Silver Award at the Digicon6 film contest with the 3D animated film Typo Master in 2017.
The crew’s dedication to capturing the most beautiful reels
From a wish to foster the development of graphic design and filmmaking at the university, Silver Swallows Studio has been equipped with facilities supporting all aspects of modern film technology: filming, image processing, 3D, and state-of-the-art cinematography. The Studio boasts a high-class film studio, a professional sound recording and mixing room, a post-production room, and a VFX studio. The filmmaking team consists of experienced and passionate people who dedicate themselves wholeheartedly to each project to create cinematic works of quality that leave a deep impression on viewers.
“I’ve spent five years working with DTU Silver Swallows Studio,” Minh Hieu explains. “That time means a lot to me. I’ve grown professionally here, and gained the confidence to move forward in my career. The university’s recognition has been a great motivation for me to continue creating and pursuing art. When it comes to the work environment, DTU’s modern facilities truly stand out; they allow staff, lecturers, and students to maximize their potential. Moreover, the close-knit relationships and mutual support among colleagues drove me even more to devote myself fully to my work. Even now, after moving on to a new position, I still feel fortunate to have been part of such an amazing team.”
(Media Center)