All five Sharks transferred a deposit on the set to the Production Director of the “Than Tra” film project.
The fundraising pitch for the “Than Tra” film project was perhaps the most unusual in the history of Shark Tank Vietnam. This will be the first original screenplay feature film for children in Vietnam in the last ten years, scheduled for release on June 1, 2026. The film tells the story of a boy who returns to his hometown of Bao Loc to restore his family’s tea hills to their former glory.
The project’s production director is Kay Nguyen, a filmmaker with 21 years of experience. She and her team have produced 16 films, grossing over VND 1,200 billion in box office revenue, including four films that grossed over VND 600 billion. Notably, three of her films—Co Ba Sai Gon, Hai Phuong, and Mat Biec—were submitted to the Oscars as Vietnam’s entries.
The fastest deal-closing in Shark Tank Vietnam’s history: Sharks express interest in further investment, but the fundraiser declines.
“Than Tra will have a budget of less than VND 5 billion, and I am here to ask for VND 4.5 billion for 70% of the shares,” Kay Nguyen presented.
“I’m in with Shark Minh and Shark Hung,” Shark Binh immediately declared.
“Deal! Done,” exclaimed Shark Hung, while Kay Nguyen was still in disbelief.
“Shark Minh Beta will handle production investment and distribution, and Shark Binh will take care of social media, marketing, and online ticketing,” Shark Hung enthusiastically assigned roles on the spot. He was excited as he saw the perfect fit between the film project and his Hacoocha tea brand.
“You have to include me too,” Shark Thai insisted on joining the deal.
Amidst the initial enthusiasm from the investment board, Shark Minh Beta—the owner of the Beta Cinemas chain—calmly raised a concern about ensuring the film’s quality with a limited investment budget of VND 5 billion, which is equivalent to only one-sixth of the typical budget for feature films nowadays.
In response, Kay Nguyen explained that the challenge would lie mostly in the screenplay. However, Shark Minh remained skeptical that such a modest budget would not allow for hiring star actors, reducing the film’s appeal.
“Each film has a different strategy, and some use a star-powered approach. But our film will focus on the screenplay. Additionally, children watch a lot of animated films, as evidenced by the high view counts on YouTube channels dedicated to kids’ content, reaching tens or even hundreds of millions. Our strategy for ‘Than Tra’ is to cast child and adult actors who fit the roles and tell a relatable, charming story,” Kay Nguyen shared.
The deal was so attractive that Shark Thai offered to invest more, mentioning that he owned a media company that could provide some support. However, Kay Nguyen explained that all 16 of her films had broken even thanks to careful budget management, so additional capital was not needed for “Than Tra.” She suggested that if Shark Thai wanted to invest more, he could contribute it as a sponsorship.
Despite the Sharks’ eagerness, Kay Nguyen warned that investing in feature films was highly risky and “not for the faint-hearted.” Shark Binh asked, “Is it as risky as investing in startups?” In contrast, Shark Hung remained keen on closing the deal as quickly as possible, aiming for the “fastest deal in Shark Tank history.”
For the first time in Shark Tank Vietnam: All five Sharks close the deal and transfer the deposit on the film set.
Meanwhile, Shark Minh Beta continued to question why Kay Nguyen and her team at A Type Machine, with their impressive track record of successful films, were willing to give up 70% of the shares to the Sharks.
“In this industry, we work on a project basis. Production directors and investors typically hire us for a fee, so getting 30% is already more than usual. Here, I’m putting in my personal money, my team’s money, and our collective effort instead of selling to larger studios,” Kay Nguyen shared, explaining the unique nature of the film industry.
Ignoring the other Sharks’ impatience to close the deal, Shark Minh calmly stated his condition: “Regardless of how the deal turns out, if I’m involved, I must have the right of first refusal for all your future projects. That means if you have an idea or a film project, you must come to me first. If Beta decides not to proceed, you can then offer it to the market with similar terms.”
Kay Nguyen agreed to this condition and requested to work directly with Shark Minh due to his distribution network, ensuring box office revenue. She also asked Shark Minh to represent her in discussions with the other Sharks.
Once reassured, Shark Minh told the other Sharks that there was nothing to evaluate regarding the company, as Kay Nguyen and her team’s impressive track record “must have a proven history, leaving no room for doubt.”
Shark Minh then proposed dividing the VND 4.5 billion for 70% of the shares as follows: Shark Minh would hold 25%, Shark Hung 15% due to his tea company, and Sharks Binh, Nga, and Thai would each get 10%.
Recognizing the project’s potential, Shark Hung was eager to seal the deal. He urged the other Sharks to transfer the money immediately to Kay Nguyen. “Send your QR code for your bank account, and the Sharks will transfer the money right now,” Shark Hung said.
Receiving the deposit transfers from the Sharks on the fundraising stage, Kay Nguyen was overwhelmed with surprise. For the first time in Shark Tank Vietnam’s history, all five Sharks closed the deal and transferred the deposit on the film set.
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