one time, I googled myself...
anyways!!!

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milky tran
viet-american writer/director​
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Hi, I'm Milky :)
I'm a 27-year-old Vietnamese-American filmmaker based in
Los Angeles, originally from the suburbs of Pittsburgh, PA.
Here's the demographic btw ---->
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The very first test I ever failed was my vision test. When I took the picture you see to the right, I remember it was the first time I ever thought I was ugly. And the first time I ever experienced
self-consciousness.
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While I felt invisible in my white school, at home, my parents were hardworking immigrants from Vietnam that ran a nail salon business 60+ hours a week.
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I spent much of my life in my head -- daydreaming, observing and journaling about my life like it was a beautiful memoir, trying to capture it honestly. ​As a writer now, I find interest in the stories of our everyday -- that the little moments are the ones with magic and build our character and make us who we are.
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I create coming-of-age, family drama and romantic dramedies centering women of color protagonists exploring memories, relationships, womanhood and the Asian Diaspora at an intimate level.
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Through posting my short film online, I became repped by
3 Arts Entertainment and had the pleasure of being a film fellow of the DB Frieze LA Film Award with Endeavor Content and Ghetto Film School, nominated in the "Ones to Watch" Category at the Asian American International Film Festival and a mentee of the Unlock Her Potential mentorship program. As a director, I've also done branded work for Google, Uber, Dove and Dermalogica.
I previously worked as a producer/director at YouTube Channel
Jubilee Media at the age of 23, which was my personal viral unscripted content bootcamp -- helping the channel garner over 20M+ views.
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Since the start of 2025, I have shifted to building my own brand as an original digital storyteller with 250k+ followers and 35M+ views, hoping to ride the wave of new media, bridging the gap between content and traditional filmmaking. ​
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To learn more, check out my work and resume.
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accolades
2023
SPOTLIGHT AWARD NOMINEE, 2023
Viet Film Awards
2022
KEYNOTE SPEAKER, 2022
Carnegie Mellon International Film Festival - Asian Made Short Films
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SELECTED MENTEE, 2022
Unlock Her Potential - Mentor Bao Nguyen
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2021
FILM FELLOW, 2021
DB Frieze LA Film Award with Endeavor Content and Ghetto Film School
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SEMIFINALIST, 2021
Giant Leap Media Accelerator
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SECOND ROUNDER, 2021
Sundance Development Track
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2020
ONES TO WATCH (TOP THREE), 2020
Asian American International Film Festival
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PEER MENTORING CIRCLE MENTEE
Women in Film LA
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QUARTERFINALIST (9 Months)
Screencraft Screenwriting Fellowship
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QUARTERFINALIST (9 Months)
Los Angeles International Screenplay Competition
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DISTINGUISHED UNDERGRAD STUDENT AWARD
Point Park University - Outstanding Student Awards
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OFFICIAL SELECTION (Rainbows in Toilets)
Albion Review National Undergrad Literary Journal
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2019
BEST NARRATIVE FILM (American Love)
Pennsylvania College Film and Video Festival
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BEST FILM, BEST DIRECTOR, BEST ACTRESS (Three Fish)
Indie Oaks Film Festival
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BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY (American Love)
Indie Oaks Film Festival
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BEST FILM, BEST DIRECTOR (American Love)
Pitt Film Fest
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BEST PERFORMANCE (Three Fish)
Pitt Film Fest
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2ND PLACE BEST SHORT (American Love)
Carnegie Mellon International Film Festival
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2018
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OFFICIAL SELECTION (Picture Us)​
National Film Festival for the Talented Youth
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BEST PERFORMANCE (Tougher Than You)
Pitt Film Fest
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4TH PLACE BEST SHORT SCREENPLAY (Emily Has a Body)
Kinodrome Film Festival
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2017
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4TH PLACE BEST SHORT SCREENPLAY (The Last Tooth)
California Film Awards: International Film & Screenplay Competition
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OFFICIAL SELECTION (Love and Goodwill)
Point Park LA Showcase
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OFFICIAL SELECTION (Coffee)
Point Park LA Showcase
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2016
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BEST EXPERIMENTAL FILM (NOMINATION) (You Will Love Again)
Teen Indie Film Awards
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BEST HIGH SCHOOL FILM (Conflicts of All Ages)
Carnegie Mellon International Film Festival
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BEST STUDENT FILM (You Will Love Again)
Steeltown Take a Shot Film Festival
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