It will compete in the Best International Feature Film award category of the 95th 2023 Oscars.

Adapted from the novel of the same name written by its director, Luong Dinh Dung, 578: Magnum is a heartbreaking story related to paedophilia, a topic that has never been explored on the big screen in Vietnam.

The film stars French-Vietnamese actor Alexandre Nguyen, Miss Universe Vietnam 2018 H'hen Nie, along with the participation of foreign filmmakers, including British director Mike Newell (Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire) and South Korean stunt-director Oh Sea-young (Avengers: Age of Ultron, Snowpiercer). It was released in domestic theatres in May, labelled C18+.

578: Magnum was also selected to compete for the "Best Film" award at the Tallinn Black Nights International Film Festival - one of the most prestigious and long-standing film festivals in the Nordic region.

On social media, many people expressed their surprise about the selection as the action movie has not won plaudits for its quality and did not attract many viewers at the box office.

Vietnamese audiences preferred "Brilliant Darkness", which won the Golden Kite Award for the best feature film, to compete at the Oscars.

Director Duong Dinh Dung said that he had been too busy to read people’s comments about his movie.

Asked if he believed that it deserved to represent Vietnam at the Oscars, and if he was surprised about the selection, Dung said: “I don’t know how I should answer. But this was really a surprise to me."

"578 Magnum'' had a production cost of VND60 billion (nearly $3 million). It hit Vietnam’s box offices on May 20 and earned only VND3.54 billion in revenue, according to Box Office Vietnam. 

On June 1, Dung unexpectedly withdrew the film from cinemas. 

Several Vietnamese movies have competed at the Oscars, including "Father and Son" by Luong Dinh Dung, and Dad, I’m Sorry" by Tran Thanh. But none of them made the final shortlist.

Tinh Le