Vietnamese Short Film “The Dream Is A Snail” Selected for TIFF 2026 Short Cuts

The 16‑minute short film “The Dream Is A Snail” (Vietnamese title “Giấc mơ là ốc sên”), directed by Nguyen Thien An, was chosen to compete in the Short Cuts program of the 51st Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) in September 2026. The film, produced under the CJ Short Film Project with a VND 300 million grant and mentorship from Vietnamese and Korean cinema experts, will have its North American premiere at the festival and is placed in the “Strange Cuts” strand, which showcases bold and creative works.

At TIFF, the film will contend for the Best International Short Film award; the winner automatically qualifies for Oscar consideration. The selection follows the film’s earlier appearance at Cannes 2026, extending the international exposure of emerging Vietnamese cinema.

The story follows Huy, a struggling actor who becomes obsessed with a snail‑related pleasure after being hired as a model for a spring‑time conference, reflecting the tension between ordinary life and artistic ambition.