Dark Star Pictures has acquired U.S. distribution rights to DAYDREAMERS, the groundbreaking Vietnamese vampire thriller from producer-director Timothy Linh Bui (THREE SEASONS, GREEN DRAGON). DAYDREAMERS will premiere in the U.S. with a limited theatrical release in 15 top markets starting May 2nd, with an expanded theatrical rollout to follow. The digital release is set for June 3rd across all major TVOD platforms.
Dark Star Pictures has built a following for its auteur-driven, bold and thought-provoking international and independent film slate. One of the first vampire films ever to emerge from Vietnam, DAYDREAMERS marks a bold new milestone for the country’s genre cinema, blending horror, thriller, and fantasy elements with breathtaking visual effects. The theatrical release will include cities with large Vietnamese diaspora audiences.
“I wanted to tell a story about people who live within the shadows of a modern city,” states Bui. “I was inspired by the Vietnamese riverboat communities, who have been there for decades and are overlooked by those around them. As the ultimate outsiders, vampires are the perfect vehicle to explore that world. They exist in secrecy, live on the margins, and are defined by their need to remain hidden.”
Set 400 years ago, this original story reimagines vampire lore in Southeast Asia. As European vampires faced extinction, they fled to Vietnam – then known as Annam – bringing with them the dark curse. The film introduces a dark and gripping supernatural world set in modern-day Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. DAYDREAMERS follows Nhat, a young vampire raised in a secluded river community that suppresses its thirst for human blood in hopes of regaining lost humanity. When his long-lost brother Marco returns with stories of vampires thriving in the big city amongst humans, Nhat is drawn into a dangerous world that tests his loyalty, beliefs, and survival. His fate takes a turn when he meets Ha, a rebellious schoolgirl who uncovers his secret—forcing Nhat to break vampire law in an act of forbidden protection. As Trieu, a ruthless vampire queen, orders their execution, the city erupts into chaos, setting the stage for a final battle between brothers—one embracing the monster within, the other fighting to hold onto his last shred of humanity.
The film showcases breathtaking visual effects that elevate its dark, dreamlike world, blending genre spectacle with grounded emotional storytelling. It also boasts a dynamic cast, including Vietnamese superstar Chi Pu (Trieu), a singer and actress with over 20 million followers who became a global sensation after her performance in the hit Chinese reality series “Sisters Who Make Waves.” She’s joined by rising talent, Trinh Thao (Ha), Thuan Nguyen (Marco), and Tran Ngoc Vang (Nhat).
DAYDREAMERS was nominated for six awards at the prestigious Vietnamese 2025 Ngoi Sao Xanh (New Face of the Year) Awards and won “Best Director” Timothy Linh Bui, “Best New Talent” Tran Ngoc Vang and “Best Production Design” An Do.
Timothy Linh Bui, known for his work on Vietnamese and diasporic stories, brings his signature storytelling to DAYDREAMERS. He produced THE HOUSEMAID which was released by IFC Films and distributed in 25 countries, including a remake in the works written by Oscar winner Geoffery Fletcher. He and his brother Tony made THREE SEASONS which won the grand jury and audience awards at Sundance Film Festival, and GREEN DRAGON, winner of the Humanitas Prize. The Bui Brothers are credited for inspiring a new wave of Vietnamese filmmakers. Happy Canvas, based in Vietnam, focuses on producing compelling local stories for a global audience.
