For our latest digital feature, we chat with the team behind Ripe, the Vietnamese gothic short film which premiered at TIFF 2025. The short has also officially been selected as one of Canada’s Top Ten Short Films Presented by TIFF and MUBI. Written and directed by Solara Thanh Bình Đặng, Ripe is described as “an ethereal drama steeped in sensual rhythms of the land,” as it follows a young woman as she decides whether or not to agree to an arranged marriage.
Check out our conversation with Solara Thanh Bình Đặng, producer Nic Altobelli, and key makeup artist for the film, Andy Le below.
Exclusive photos for Popternative Magazine by Mike Ng
Studio: Cocreate Space
What was the inspiration behind Ripe?
Solara Thanh Bình Đặng: It was a hot summer’s day when I sat down with my mother and she carved open a durian for me. Opening a fresh durian is a labour of love, because the fruit has such a tough, spiky outer shell. When she cracked the fruit open in half to reveal the fleshy interior, I couldn’t help but notice how soft, tender, and womb-like it looked. After that day, I kept returning to this thought, and the connection between durian and womanhood became almost an obsession.
How would you describe the film tone and genre wise?
Solara Thanh Bình Đặng: I had my own intentions going into the making of the film, and the final form surprised me in how both close it was to my personal vision, yet also extremely different. If you ask me, I might describe the film as moody, gothic, melodramatic, a touch satirical and surreal. The film’s setting being Vietnam’s Mekong Delta in the early 2000s also really helped define the unique tone and mood. But I have heard descriptions and interpretations from people who have seen the film that are very different from my own, which have surprised me, and that’s the most fascinating part of this whole process, and probably more interesting than what I have to say about the film.
What was that script to screen journey like?
Solara Thanh Bình Đặng: I’m a pretty slow writer, and I don’t consider myself the kind of director who works on spontaneous sparks of inspiration. I probably see myself more like a compost bin, which isn’t very romantic or appealing, but I’m totally okay with that. I love my kitchen compost bin, personally. From writing the script, to figuring out the film’s logistics, making creative decisions, storyboarding, and rehearsing with my actors, I approached it like one long composting process; mostly try to put in nutritious material, sometimes some shit and junk is acceptable, some dirt is needed to get everything going, and definitely need to go up for air regularly. The most important aspect of this journey for me is my team; film is such a collaborative process and behind any director is a whole bunch of people who care about the project and are incredibly skilled at what they do. It’s important to me to fun with my team while creating a supportive environment where they can perform to their best abilities. It’s not that serious!!
Nic Altobelli: Solara brought me the first seedlings of this story idea, and the characters within it, a few years ago and I produced a one minute proof of concept for her. It has grown and morphed in a beautiful way. Everyone involved in making this short film iteration a reality brought so much love and craft to the script. It was an honour to be brought into Solara’s story world through her words, then to be continuously invited into people’s lives and homes while we were shooting, and working alongside the post team who graced the film with such precision and elegance. Watching it on the big screen at the TIFF Lightbox in September felt fitting. It felt like cracking open a ripe fruit.
Andy Le: It was a very surreal experience for me, being back in Vietnam after 14 years in Canada. There’s something truly beautiful about filming on location that you can’t replicate anywhere else; the culture, the people, the scenery, the lived experiences. It’s unmatched. This was a project that hit close to home for many of us, and it was amazing being a part of a team that put so much thought and care into every detail. The premiere at TIFF being so well received from the audience reminded me the reason we continue to create stories like this.
What was it like premiering the film at TIFF?
Solara Thanh Bình Đặng: I’ve gotten this question a lot, and I think I’ve finally figured out my answer. There’s the nice and sweet answer which is: Of course, premiering at a festival like TIFF was a huge dream come true and a goal of mine. I remember being on the phone with Nic when we got the email, I was on a Skytrain in Vancouver and was overcome with tears of joy! The festival gave me the chance to share the film on a global stage and also meet with fellow talented and inspiring colleagues in the film world, and I would love the chance to experience that again one day.
The deeper answer is: Nothing really changed for me. After all the buzz and glamour of festival, I returned to my regular life – bills to pay, chores to do, a cat to care for, friends to catch up with, unfinished scripts to face – and I was happy for it. I think the best part of creating anything is the actual creating of it – that slog that nobody really sees – so I’m most excited now to get back into my work. I’m currently turning “ripe” into a feature film script, and in the meantime I have another short film in the works. Wish me luck!
When people watch the film, what are you hoping they get out of it?
Solara Thanh Bình Đặng: Whatever they get out of it. Maybe they will look at fruit in a different way, or go try eating durian if they haven’t yet. I won’t be offended if they don’t like it – it’s a polarizing fruit and that’s why it makes for such a great muse!
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Ripe will screen during Programme 2 on Saturday, February 7, 2026 at TIFF Lightbox as TIFF celebrates the 25th edition of Canada’s Top Ten Films.
Follow Solara Thanh Bình Đặng: Instagram
Follow Nic Altobelli: Instagram
Follow Andy Le: Instagram