Minh Anh Nguyễn

A man in a gray jacket hands a bowl of food to a small child in colorful clothing near a doorway, with a group of people eating together at a crowded table in the background.

Onkel Thuận 2025, Documentary, 45:00 min, stills: Minh Anh Nguyễn

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Several people sort through a scattered collection of old photographs, letters, and albums on a table, with hands holding and examining different pictures.

Onkel Thuận 2025, Documentary, 45:00 min, stills: Minh Anh Nguyễn

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Two people work in a cluttered commercial kitchen, preparing food. The kitchen is filled with utensils, bowls, containers, and ingredients on stainless steel counters under bright lights.

Onkel Thuận 2025, Documentary, 45:00 min, stills: Minh Anh Nguyễn

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A couple dances at a lively indoor event, surrounded by an audience capturing the moment on their phones. The woman is smiling, and the atmosphere is festive with people watching and taking photos.

Onkel Thuận 2025, Documentary, 45:00 min, stills: Minh Anh Nguyễn

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A woman in a black coat holds groceries and a blue bag while standing in a small shop with shelves stocked with food, snacks, and other items. Boxes and products are stacked around her.

Onkel Thuận 2025, Documentary, 45:00 min, stills: Minh Anh Nguyễn

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A woman in a blue puffer coat sits alone on a nearly empty bus at night, gazing out with a pensive expression. Another person sits further behind her, reading a book. The bus interior is dimly lit.

so much water, so close to home 2025, Essay film, 46:40 min, stills: by Wolf, set photos: Merve Selçuk

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A couple lies in bed at night, cuddling under a blue quilt. The person on the left lies curled up while the person on the right gently hugs them from behind. The room is dimly lit, creating a cozy, intimate atmosphere.

so much water, so close to home 2025, Essay film, 46:40 min, stills: by Wolf, set photos: Merve Selçuk

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A woman lies on a bed, smiling and gently touching the chin of a baby who is lying next to her. The baby is wearing a red outfit and looking up at the woman. The setting appears soft and cozy.

so much water, so close to home 2025, Essay film, 46:40 min, stills: by Wolf, set photos: Merve Selçuk

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A young girl in a white dress sits on the floor of a dimly lit hallway, coloring on paper with colored pencils. Warm orange walls, a plant, and hanging bags create a cozy atmosphere.

so much water, so close to home 2025, Essay film, 46:40 min, stills: by Wolf, set photos: Merve Selçuk

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Two people sit across from each other at a dimly lit kitchen table, with a warm light casting shadows. Kitchen shelves, a stove, and cabinets are visible in the background.

so much water, so close to home 2025, Essay film, 46:40 min, stills: by Wolf, set photos: Merve Selçuk

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Three women in light blue outfits sit on armchairs around a table with flowers, while two men in blue suits stand and gesture in a lavishly decorated room with ornate blue and gold walls.

Eine Maschine fliegt in die Luft 2024, tragic comedy, 49:43 min, stills: Christian Egerer

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Several people in light blue suits and gloves stand or kneel around a long dining table; one person stands on the table pouring liquid, while another kneels, cleaning up a mess. The scene appears staged and dramatic.

Eine Maschine fliegt in die Luft 2024, tragic comedy, 49:43 min, stills: Christian Egerer

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A group of people, some wearing colorful clothing and ruffled collars, sit around a rectangular table set with white linens, fruit, candles, and food, in a dimly lit room.

Eine Maschine fliegt in die Luft 2024, tragic comedy, 49:43 min, stills: Christian Egerer

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A woman wearing glasses and a mask gestures while talking to a serious-looking man in a light-colored blazer, who is standing against a white door in a dimly lit room.

Eine Maschine fliegt in die Luft 2024, tragic comedy, 49:43 min, stills: Christian Egerer

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A line of people dressed in pale blue suits, wearing neck braces and blue gloves, stand indoors. Some look forward, others downward; two figures converse in the background near a bright window.

Eine Maschine fliegt in die Luft 2024, tragic comedy, 49:43 min, stills: Christian Egerer

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People dance and socialize in a dimly lit, warehouse-like venue with orange exercise balls. A DJ stands at a decorated booth with lights, as another person sits on a ball in the foreground, facing away.

To Cut A Long Story Short 2021, tragic comedy, 70:28 min, stills: Beckmann Film

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A dimly lit room with two single beds; one is neatly made, while the other has crumpled sheets. Light streams in through a window, gently blowing a sheer curtain. A small bedside table sits between the beds.

To Cut A Long Story Short 2021, tragic comedy, 70:28 min, stills: Beckmann Film

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A man and a woman sit across from each other at a dimly lit diner table. The man has food in front of him, while both have large, face-shaped jars on the table. The diner has soft lighting and a retro ambiance.

To Cut A Long Story Short 2021, tragic comedy, 70:28 min, stills: Beckmann Film

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A group of dancers in dark, peacock-inspired costumes perform a dramatic, low, and intense dance pose with arms extended, illuminated against a dark background.

To Cut A Long Story Short 2021, tragic comedy, 70:28 min, Stills: Beckmann Film

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A man wearing glasses, headphones, and a white shirt stands outside at night with his eyes closed, appearing to enjoy music. The background is dimly lit with blurred streetlights and out-of-focus objects.

To Cut A Long Story Short 2021, tragic comedy, 70:28 min, Stills: Beckmann Film

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Minh Anh Nguyễn, photo: Larissa Zauser

Biography

  • 1997

    born in Rheine

  • since 2018

    media art (film) at Karlsruhe University of Arts and Design, with Fred Kelemen, Marine Hugonnier, Charlotte Eifler, Răzvan Rădulescu, Serpil Turhan, Dane Komljen

  • 2016 – 2018

    Fine Arts (video and sculpture) at State Academy of Fine Arts Karlsruhe with John Bock, Ulla von Brandenburg, Adrian Lohmüller

Jury statement

The jury commends the sincerity of storytelling in the works of filmmaker Minh Anh Nguyễn. Her commitment to affective material, interwoven through different modalities of narration, renders her language more vulnerable—creating entry points for understanding shared human stories. The jury notes the early professionalization of her techniques, which could allow her to experiment with a variety of cinematic processes that deepen the (re)presentation of difficult histories, subjects, and communities.

The artist’s precision is so tender in developing her characters that they can traverse identity politics and cultural contexts. The promise of her cinema and video lies in their capacity to create a shared screen for empathy. In this sense, the jury encourages Minh Anh Nguyễn to explore multiple ways of presenting and distributing her moving image beyond traditional spaces of art.

Renan Laru-an, jury member

Filmography

Screenplay and direction

  • 2025

    Onkel Thuận, 60 min, documentary

  • 2025

    so much water, so close to home, 46 min, essay film

  • since 2024

    summon spirits in ha noi, 90 min, docu fiction, in treatment

  • 2024

    Eine Maschine fliegt in die Luft, 49 min, tragic comedy

  • 2021

    To Cut A Long Story Short, 71 min, tragic comedy

  • 2021

    Ich weiss noch nicht mal, wie man Existenz buchstabiert, 17 min, drama

  • 2021

    Kraefte, 11 min, drama

  • 2020

    Ein Fisch, der Angst vor dem Wasser hat, 7 min, essay film

  • 2019

    eleos + phobos, 2 min, tragic comedy

  • 2018

    We stole an ID to buy us cigarettes, 32 min, drama

  • 2017

    I spiced it up with a little bit of Vanilla, 20 min, tragic comedy

  • 2017

    Optics, 4 min, experimental film, Super 8

  • 2016

    Sweet jeans are made of steel, 10 min, video

  • 2015

    Dissociation, 5 min, video

  • 2015

    Desire, 7 min, video

Group exhibition

  • 2025

    27th Federal Competition Federal Prize for Art Students, Bundeskunsthalle Bonn

Grants and awards

  • 2025

    Federal Prize for Art Students, Federal Ministry of Education, Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth

  • 2025

    29.​ Filmfest Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Eine Maschine fliegt in die Luft

  • 2024

    Beyond Filmfestival 2024, Feuchtwangen, To Cut A Long Story Short

  • 2023

    22.​ Independent Days Internationales Filmfest, Karlsruhe, best soundtrack for To Cut A Long Story Short

  • 2022

    51.​ Sehsüchte Film Festival, Babelsberg, nomination for best production for To Cut A Long Story Short

  • since 2021

    grant of the Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes

  • 2020

    Federal Short Film Competition of Neue Vision Filmverleih, Berlin, nomination for eleos + phobos

  • 2018

    53.​ Werkstatt der Jungen Filmszene, Wiesbaden, I spiced it up with a little bit of Vanilla

  • 2015

    Youth Culture Award Talents in Fine Arts 2015, Lingen (Ems), 2nd price for Desire

Bundespreis für Kunststudierende 2025