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.
Set in modern-day Saigon, the film follows Nhat, a young vampire raised in a secretive riverboat community that suppresses its thirst for human blood. When his estranged brother Marco returns, tempting him with freedom in the city’s nightlife, Nhat breaks vampire law to protect a rebellious girl who uncovers his secret—sparking a deadly chain of events. As chaos erupts, Daydreamers delivers a genre-blending, emotionally charged twist on vampire mythology with stunning visual effects and a powerful story of loyalty, identity, and survival.
Check out the film’s official trailer in the player below:
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.
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).
The film 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.
