Lê Ngọc Duy

Vietnam

Filmmaker

Residency in Collaboration with Internationale Kurzfilmtage Winterthur

Born in 2000 in Da Nang, Vietnam, Lê Ngọc Duy is a filmmaker whose work explores the politics of memory, queer expression, and Central Vietnamese heritage. Using a blend of narrative, essayistic, and archival forms drawn from his own family and hometown, his recent works question the influence of official narratives on shaping collective memory and how dominant systems construct history.

His latest short film, “Before the Sea Forgets,” premiered at the 2025 Cannes' Directors' Fortnight, where it was nominated for the Queer Palm. A recipient of Prince Claus Fund’s Seed Award and CJ Short Film Project's production grant, he participated in the 2025 Locarno Filmmakers Academy and was selected as an Artist in Residence at the Kurzfilmtage Residency @ Villa Sträuli. His works have screened at festivals worldwide.

Beyond filmmaking, Duy is committed to building a critical film culture in Vietnam. As a member of A Sông Collective, he organizes and co-curates Cinema Con Nha Ngheo (Cinema of Peasants), a grassroots initiative promoting local independent cinema since 2023. He is also the founder and programmer of the Ho Chi Minh City-based arthouse and experimental film series “chớp bóng.” His past work includes collaborations with arts and educational organizations such as Autumn Meeting, Queer Forever, and Hoa Sen University.

IG: https://www.instagram.com/duy.ngocle/

FB: https://www.facebook.com/ngocduyle20/