The Cannes Film Festival organizers announced the nominees for the "Short Film Competition" category on 22/4. In addition to Nguyen Thien An's work, other contenders include Fresh Cut (director Hadrien Bels), The Last Spring (Mathilde Bedouet), Sisters' Swim (Lola Degove), The End (Niki Lindroth Von Bahr), For the Opponents (Federico Luis), Thunder Platoon (Theo Montoya), A Few Things Happening by a River (Daniel Soares), Spiritus Sanctus (Michal Toczek), and Nobody Said Anything (Tamara Todorovic). These 10 films were chosen from over 3,000 projects.

"Dream is a snail" is one of five outstanding short films funded by the CJ Short Film Project 2025. The plot revolves around Huy, an extra who becomes addicted to the sensation of snails after being hired as a model for a rejuvenation workshop. The cinematography, by director Chananun Chotrungroj, known for her work on "The Third Wife", evokes genuine yet deeply metaphorical emotions about humanity and existence.

Director Nguyen Thien An (right) on the set of "Dream is a snail". Photo: Courtesy

With its 16-minute runtime, "Dream is a snail" portrays the journey of young people trapped between mundane reality and extravagant, out-of-reach artistic dreams. Director Phan Dang Di, who mentored Nguyen Thien An in the CJ Short Film Project, praised the work for its natural appeal, unique storytelling, which is both humorous and satirical, prompting viewers to reflect on the characters' plights.

" 'Dream is a snail' serves as a humorous allegory for the predicament of young people in modern consumer society, where artistic statements are marketing tactics and glory is too noisy. Meanwhile, lying still to let snails crawl on their bodies is a temporary pleasure they want to believe is real," director Phan Dang Di analyzed.

Nguyen Thien An (center) is one of five outstanding directors from "CJ Short Film Project" season 6. Photo: Courtesy

"Dream is a snail" competing for the short film award at Cannes 2026 continues the CJ Short Film Project's international reach. Previously, many young directors from the program won awards at international festivals, such as Pham Ngoc Lan ("Best Debut Feature Film" at the Berlin Film Festival), Pham Thien An ("Golden Camera" at the Cannes Film Festival), and Duong Dieu Linh ("Best Film" and "Most Innovative Film" at the Venice Film Festival).

Held annually since 2018, the CJ Short Film Project – initiated by CJ Cultural Foundation and CGV Vietnam – has become a place to nurture many young talents. Over six seasons, the organizers have provided production funding for 30 short films and supported 32 young directors. Films completed within the project framework have been screened and won awards at over 60 international film festivals.

The crew of "Dream is a snail" participated in a training course with the Korean Academy of Film Arts (KAFA) before filming. Photo: Courtesy

The Cannes Film Festival is one of the most prestigious annual film events in the world, first held in 1946 in the resort city of Cannes, in southern France. The program honors outstanding works and serves as a launchpad for many potential independent directors. This year's event will take place from 12 to 23/5, with Korean director Park Chan Wook serving as the jury president. French actress Eye Haidara will host the program.

Dong Ve