CapCut and Mangoplus open opportunities for young filmmakers to apply AI in telling Vietnamese cultural stories

The competition offers a golden chance to distribute projects onto professional OTT streaming platforms. Additionally, the event promises to gather nearly 100 domestic independent creators, completely dismantling filmmaking financial barriers through the power of CapCut AI tools.

The highlight guaranteeing the artistic excellence of Past Forward is the presence of an experienced advisory board. Prominently mentoring the contestants is Director Aaron Toronto, an award winning filmmaker whose work "Brilliant Darkness!" swept 5 Golden Kite Awards, alongside standout films such as "Jailbait", "De Mai Tinh", and "Teo Em". Standing alongside him is Director of Photography Dominic Pereira, the visionary behind stunning cinematography in blockbuster hits like "The Rebel", "Dreamy Eyes", and "The Last Wife".

Director Aaron Toronto, an award winning filmmaker renowned for numerous acclaimed works

Director of Photography Dominic Pereira, the eye behind stunning visuals in numerous blockbuster movies

The contest creates genuine opportunities for young creators to step out of their short video comfort zones and embrace structured, professional content production. The winning team will secure a prize worth 4,000 USD, with 2,000 USD for second place and 1,000 USD for third place. Notably, through the MangoPlus platform, standout films will gain opportunities for wide distribution domestically and internationally.

The MangoPlus platform distributes popular films both domestically and internationally

To achieve top honors, filmmakers will tackle the theme "Inheriting past values, crafting new stories." Every generation preserves its own flow of memories. The organizers provided numerous suggestions and examples to help young talents draw inspiration from the philosophy of perseverance in "Practice makes perfect" (Có công mài sắt, có ngày nên kim), or the morals of karma and justice found in "Tam Cam" and "Thanh Giong" to develop groundbreaking screenplays blending past, contemporary, futuristic, or fantasy backdrops.

On a more intimate level, anyone can choose to reconstruct authentic, understated pieces of their own family life, such as a mother diligently mending clothes beneath a kerosene lamp, the crackling static of a grandfather radio, or a frugal meal during a stormy day. Instead of leaving memories confined to oral storytelling, young creators can now personally recreate those vintage moments with vivid authenticity.

What drives the true appeal of Past Forward is CapCut AI toolkit. Throughout the competition, contestants will utilize this suite as their primary creative assistant, fulfilling at least 70% of total visual runtime. As a result, the financial and logistical burden of physical set design or costly visual effects is drastically minimized.

The two spearhead features deployed are Edit Pilot, which powers an intelligent video editing workflow optimizing performance, and Video Studio, which swiftly converts concepts into finished works. When financial and technical hurdles are lifted, the storyteller's perspective and life experiences become the decisive elements breathing soul into each creation. The quest to discover gifted creators will span three stages.

Kicking off with Stage 1 from October 1 to October 15, 2026, the organizers accept submissions via Pitch Decks detailing storyline, screenplay, and concept visuals alongside a one minute demo reel. A direct wildcard spot into the Top 10 will be awarded to the project generating the highest social media engagement featuring hashtags #PastForward #CapCut #MangoPlus. Contestants can also proactively register for sponsored CapCut AI credit packages to polish their entries.

Moving into Stage 2 from October 27 to November 25, 2026, the 10 standout projects will instantly receive 500 USD per team as production funding for short films spanning 10 to 15 minutes. Throughout this month, cinema experts will provide direct guidance, hosting workshops and one on one mentoring sessions for each crew.

The final leg running from November 26 through mid December 2026 will culminate in an offline screening event and awards ceremony.

The expert board will rigorously evaluate works across three core pillars:

Regarding Storytelling, the entry demands a lucid central idea, compelling plot, powerful themes, and resonant characters to communicate its overarching message seamlessly.

Regarding Style and Filmmaking Technique, judges will score entries on the effectiveness and ingenuity of sound design, editing, and cinematography. Every technical facet must actively serve the core premise.

Finally, AI Proficiency requires visual and stylistic consistency, prioritizing inventive AI applications rarely achievable through traditional filmmaking techniques to enrich story delivery.

For comprehensive details on the Past Forward contest, explore more right here.