A short film made by a group of Vietnamese students in Ho Chi Minh City will be shown at the opening of the 7th Annual International Student Film Festival in Hollywood next month.

“The 4th” film, made by a five-member student group from the Raffles International College in HCMC’s Phu Nhuan District, is a horror film that takes place on the fourth floor of the school, said the film’s director Nguyen Do Khoa.

Four is believed to be the number of death, the inevitable and final part of a human being’s life circle that includes birth, aging and sickness, said Khoa, who majored in Chinese Studies before studying Interactive Media Design at the Singapore-invested school.

The film tells of mysterious incidents related to number 4, after a janitor at the school dies suddenly at 4:00 p.m. on the fourth floor of the school, Khoa said, adding the film shows that the janitor cannot avoid the four inevitable stages of life.

The 20-minute film is o 64 selected from 200 short films submitted to the organizer, Khoa said.

The film, the group’s graduation thesis, is Vietnam’s sole entry this year, Khoa added.

The group, which includes Le Thi Nhu Anh (editor), Pham Ho (visual effects), Nguyen Huy Vu (music) and Truong Thang Khoa (media artwork processor), spent 10 weeks making the film, from writing the script to filming, Khoa said, adding they invited their friends to act in the film.

Khoa said his Canadian instructor Paul Swanson appreciated the film and suggested that the group register it for a film festival.

Following his suggestion, the students registered their film for the international festival in Hollywood and were informed two months later that it had been selected.

“The 4th” will be shown on November 7 at the Beverly Garland Theater in North Hollywood.

Reported by Van Khoa