Filmography

Van Phan is passionate about creating WOW experiences by utilizing emerging technologies, psychology, and animation as tools to push the boundaries of storytelling for social impact. Van utilizes his multidisciplinary background and platform to explore new processes, solve problems, and share his experience, thereby furthering the emerging storytelling medium. He has produced several short films that have screened at over sixty international film festivals, including Cannes, Tribeca, SXSW, and SIGGRAPH. His movies have gone on to win numerous awards, including two Student Emmys. His thesis film, "Values," qualified for the Academy Award for "Best Animated Short" after winning the SIGGRAPH Best of the Show award.

Watch Upstander in VR

His most recent project, Upstander, has premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival, Cannes Film Festival, Bifan, and the Nashville Film Festival. Upstander won Best Non-Interactive VR for the XR Must 2020 Awards.

What the Press has been saying

Honors/Awards

Best 360 film XR-Must 2020 Awards
CannesXR VeeR Future Awards 2020
Tribeca Film Festival Official Selection 2020
Oculus Start 2020

LaunchPad Fellowship 2019
Creator's Lab 3.0 Filmmaker 2018

USC Classic Shorts
Best of Show SIGGRAPH Academy Award-eligible

Academy Award Eligible for Best Animated Short

Student Emmys Award Animation

Best of Show 3D Design Big Kahuna
Best Animation Tehran International Short Film Festival

First Place Media One Student Short Film Contest
Best Animation Palm Spring Short Animation Festival

Finalist - Digital Video Media Master Award

WorldFest Houston Platinum Award
New Haven Film Fest Audience Choice Award
Finalist - Japan Digital Animation Festival -

Honorable Mention - Rhythm a Hues Scholarship

Honorable Mention - Smog Dance Festival

Best Experimental Film - GTCN Film and Video Festival

Best Animation - Rhythm and Hues Animation Contest

Best Student Animation - Santa Clarita International Film Festival
Classic USC Shorts Screening

Screenings of Upstander

Zlin Film Festival 2021

Febio Film Festival 2021

VRE Film Festival 2021

Games for Change Festival 2021

XR MUST Festival 2021

Tribeca International Film Festival 2020
Cannes International Film Festival 2020
BIFAN International Film Festival 2020
Nashville International Film Festival 2020
Chianiartoonfest Film Festival 2020

Verse Internation Film Festival 2020