Application to residency: The Weight of Mountains, Ho Chi Minh City

The Weight of Mountains is a filmmakers platform, residency, and a loose collective.
Filmmakers come with their own individual ideas, as conduits and conjurors they respond to evocative notions of site-specifics.

Artistically, TWOM filmmakers explore the intersection of humanity and environment through their unique and reciprocal influences on-site. This may enable a collective and ongoing rhetorical investigation into the metaphoric and poetic notions of 'the weight of mountains' – as an allegory for an immeasurable affect of being in, and with, a place.

Over December 2, 2026 – February 28, 2027 The Weight of Mountains filmmakers residency will be held in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
This is the dry season, temperatures range from 25 - 35C and humidity is ever persistent.
Our collaborators are Rare Sea arts organisation Saigon and RMIT University Vietnam.

Name

First NameLast Name

Email

example@example.com

Address

Street Address

Street Address Line 2

CityState / Province

Postal / Zip Code

Nationality

Gender Identity/Pronouns

She/her, They/them, He/Them etc.

Do you Identify as First Nations/Indigenous

Welcome to share your mob, region, or language group.

Emergency Contact Person

In case of emergency while on-site

Do you have any obstacles submitting a written application that we can accommodate for?

Eg. English as a second language, dyslexia. We are happy to make allowances for varied writing abilities.

Do you have any accessibility requirements or conditions to consider when traveling?

We aim to prepare and accommodate filmmakers as best we can.

Age

Applicants must be over 21 years old to be eligible.

For enquiries about the application questions below or The Weight of Mountains in general, contact twom.film@gmail.com

1. Short Biography

Please introduce your creative and professional history. 300 words max.

2. Links to website and previous film work

You must have 2 film works available to be eligible. Please include passwords for private videos

3. Tell us about your voice as a filmmaker – what is it about your films that make them your own? How have you defined this voice (or continue to try) and how do you feel this may set you apart as a unique filmmaker today?

300 words max

4. Please discuss a recent project in relation to a future idea that helps you to explain a path you are (potentially/actually) taking with the direction of your work. This idea does not have to be done with The Weight of Mountains.

300 words max

5. THE PREAMBLE: The theme of humanity as it intersects with environment is central to The Weight of Mountains. 1: By humanity, we mean philosophical, physical/bodily, presence/absence, anthropocene/chthulucene, cosmic, sensory, emotionally human, post-human, spectrums of character, psychological, analysis or reflection (and more). 2: By environment we mean the natural world, constructed spaces, physical surroundings, site, global politics/economics/science or societal concerns, lawscape, immersive situations or hyper-objects (and more). THE QUESTION: Tell us how you perceive your work as inspired by, working with, or touching upon both of these concepts? What threads will continue to be focused on? –OR– If your work does not currently consider an intersection of humanity and environment, what makes you want to consider this now with The Weight of Mountains and how do you envision this progress or change for yourself? (I.e. is it a shift of practice? new ideas? etc).

450 WORDS MAX. *Please note, if you are applying as a travel documentary filmmaker we will NOT accept your submission to TWOM unless you address a radical diversion of practice and a deeper interpretation of the world and your approach to film in this question – TWOM is not for tourist or travel film.

6. Given your answer to the previous question, please expand upon what it is about the landscape or your perception of Ho Chi Minh City that you want to explore in your work? How do you think this location will enhance your filmmaking voice?

250 words max

7. Why leave your home/current situation/work or location for 3 months? Please tell us your personal and professional motivations. Knowing you will encounter a new place with limited resources, to work without a crew, production team, producer, and no granted budget from TWOM? Why now, why us?

250 words max.

8. Please give a brief description of your attitudes as a filmmaker. Eg: What enables you to work independently, to embrace the challenge of creating a short film in 3 months, while adapting to a new environment? Perhaps share a past experience from working solo, or when working in a foreign place, or when things got rough but you pulled yourself (or others?) through.

250 words max.

9. Please list (in dot points) any skills, software, techniques, or abilities that you can offer as a workshop, lecture, or skill exchange with other filmmakers in residence.

This is a way that we can understand how filmmakers may be able to learn from each other. Conducting a workshop is not compulsory.

Do you have your own equipment to work independently on a new short film piece?

If you answered 'No' above, please elaborate.

Please attach your CV

PDF preferred. No more than 3 pages.

Please attach a professional reference letter

A professional reference must come from someone who has worked with you (i.e. a collaborator, teacher, mentor, industry professional or co-worker.) If you do not have a letter from them in time for the deadline, please upload a document stating your referee's name, then email the letter to twom.film@gmail.com as soon as you have it.

Please attach a character reference letter

Your character reference letter should come from someone you know professionally or personally. A character reference should give an insight into your character, attitudes, or approach to life.

Lastly, it may help us to know - where did you hear about The Weight of Mountains?

Thank you for applying for the filmmakers development residency.
For further questions, email twom.film@gmail.com

Working language for TWOM on-site is English. We strongly encourage those with another mothertongue to apply.

APPLICATION DEADLINE : MIDNIGHT, MAY 31, 2026.
(GMT+7)Time in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

All shortlisted applicants will be contacted for a Zoom interview.

APPLICATION FORM

THE WEIGHT OF MOUNTAINS