Private Project

Đồng Quể: Of the Same Womb

Đồng Quể: Of the Same Womb seeks to inspire connection, healing, and solidarity among queer and trans Vietnamese individuals, their families, and broader communities. By documenting the journey of 13 queer and trans Vietnamese artists returning to their ancestral homeland, the film holds space for the complex interplay of grief, resilience, and reclamation. It aims to resonate not only with queer and trans Vietnamese people across the diaspora but also with anyone navigating the intersections of identity, family, and belonging.

  • Sage Tran
    Director
  • Hai Vo
    Producer
  • Mo Tran
    Producer
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Feature
  • Runtime:
    56 minutes 48 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    September 8, 2025
  • Production Budget:
    20,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Sage Tran

Sage Tran (they/them) is a queer and trans Vietnamese filmmaker and somatic healing facilitator from the Bay Area. As a co-founder of SunKissed Productions, an independent multimedia collective led by queer and non-binary Asian-American artists. Their storytelling focuses on themes of ancestral remembrance, identity reclamation, and the concept of home, particularly within displaced communities. Sage's approach is collaborative and relationship-driven, aiming to foster growth, accountability, and joy. In their somatic facilitation role with Reclaiming Our Own Transcendence (RooT), Sage addresses individual and communal trauma through transformative education and diverse healing practices.

Sage's work has been featured by organizations and platforms such as the East Bay Stonewall Democratic Association, NBC Asian America: Queering API America, San Francisco Transgender Film Festival, Hanoi International Film Festival, Autostraddle, and Upworthy. At UC Santa Cruz's Social Documentation program, Sage intends to deepen their documentary filmmaking practice, creating narratives that resonate with marginalized communities and promote understanding and empathy.

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Director Statement

As a queer, trans, second-generation Vietnamese filmmaker, my creative practice is rooted in storytelling as a tool for connection, healing, and liberation. My work bridges the personal and collective, centering the voices of marginalized communities—particularly queer and trans BIPOC individuals—while inviting audiences to reflect on their own narratives. Growing up navigating the intersections of diaspora, intergenerational trauma, and queerness, I’ve come to see storytelling as a way to reclaim agency and cultivate belonging.

My filmmaking process is deeply influenced by my role as a somatic healing facilitator, which has taught me the importance of moving at the speed of trust. I approach filmmaking collaboratively, creating spaces where participants feel grounded, safe, and empowered to share their truths. For me, filmmaking is not just a technical craft but a living process—one that holds space for rawness, intimacy, and transformation.

Đồng Quể: Of the Same Womb represents the epitome of my creative and personal journey. It is both an extension of my identity and a reflection of the QTViệt Cafe Collective’s work. As a core member of the collective since 2016, I have documented its evolution, and this project expands my practice by intertwining my own story with those of my peers. Filming our homeland trip taught me to navigate the complexities of being both a subject and a filmmaker, deepening my understanding of ethical storytelling and accountability.

This project has also challenged me to grow technically and creatively. While I’ve honed resourcefulness through years of freelancing on tight budgets, Đồng Quể has pushed me to scale my craft. Weaving together diverse narratives, balancing performance art with reflective moments, and integrating historical context have required me to think critically about structure, pacing, and cohesion. These challenges highlight areas where I still seek growth, such as refining my editing techniques and learning how to collaborate effectively with larger teams.