VEN is not for profit. Every dollar goes towards our work in supporting local ecosystems and communities.
From VEN Land: Inspired by Vietnam
Bringing you closer to Vietnam’s wild heart and the people protecting it
When Everything Comes Together
SHORT FILM
When Everything Comes Together is a short documentary that explores the deep connection between people and nature. Through stunning visuals and heartfelt storytelling, the film shows how every part of life plants, animals, oceans, and humans is linked together in one beautiful and fragile system. It also encourages viewers to think about how modern life, pollution, and the overuse of natural resources have created distance between us and the environment. At its heart, the film is a gentle reminder that caring for nature means caring for ourselves. By reconnecting with the natural world, we can rediscover a sense of wonder, balance, and belonging that brings everything and everyone together.
ABOUT
Meet Scott and Jydee
Scott and Jydee are experienced dive instructors who have spent years capturing the beauty and wonder of marine life. Their deep connection to the ocean has shaped their understanding of nature’s fragility and the importance of protecting it. As part of the VEN Community Engagement Program, they stepped on to land for the first time as filmmakers learning the art of storytelling, scriptwriting, and visual narration. With When Everything Comes Together, Scott and Jydee merge their underwater experience with a fresh perspective on life above the surface inviting us all to rediscover our connection with the natural world.
A Home Between Mountains and the Sea
Valeria’s film takes us on a powerful journey through Da Nang and the Son Tra Peninsula a place where tradition and modern life meet. Through her lens, we see how people, nature, and the growing city are deeply connected.
The documentary explores the beauty and the challenges of this changing region: from lively markets and fishing villages to the rapid rise of urban skylines. At its heart is the story of the endangered red-shanked douc langur, the effects of plastic pollution, and the inspiring local efforts to protect coral reefs and natural habitats.
With honesty and care, Valeria shows that protecting nature is not only possible but essential. Her film reminds us that every action matters and asks a simple question that concerns us all: how will we choose to live in the future?
Meet Valeria
Valeria is a passionate storyteller, traveler, and advocate for sustainability who brings creativity and purpose to everything she does.
Originally from Mexico, she has carried her curiosity and compassion across continents from volunteering in wildlife conservation in Bali to supporting innovation projects in Portugal and mentoring students in the UK.
Her experiences have shaped her into someone deeply committed to making a positive impact on both people and the planet. Valeria believes in the power of education, empathy, and community action to drive meaningful change.
Through her volunteer work, she has inspired young people to care for their environment and learned that true fulfillment comes from giving and connecting with others.
Valeria continues to explore, learn, and share stories that remind us of our shared responsibility.
Small Creatures, Big Impact
"Small Creatures, Big Impact" takes viewers into the unseen world of Son Tra’s insects the tiny heroes that keep the forest alive. Through stunning close-ups and gentle storytelling, the film reveals how bees, beetles, ants, and dragonflies each play a crucial role in maintaining balance and biodiversity.
Amid growing pressures from tourism, pesticides, and climate change, their fragile world faces serious threats. Yet, the film offers hope showing that by protecting habitats and restoring natural systems, we can help nature heal and thrive again.
This short documentary is a celebration of life in its smallest forms, reminding us that even the tiniest creatures have an extraordinary impact on the planet we all share.
Meet Laura
With a First-Class Honours degree in Media, Film, and Television from Nottingham Trent University, she brings a strong creative vision and professional expertise to her filmmaking. Drawing on over eight years of experience in television production, she has a keen eye for storytelling, composition, and engaging visuals.
Her extensive travels spanning 47 countries across all five continents inspire her work, allowing her to capture diverse cultures, landscapes, and human stories with authenticity and depth. This film reflects her passion for exploring the natural world and its delicate balance, translating her global experiences into a compelling and visually rich narrative.
A Shared Place – The Story of Coexistence
Inspired by the storytelling style of Sir David Attenborough, “A Shared Place – The Story of Coexistence” is a 27-minute documentary by Taya Xiao Skaaning, created during her three-week stay with VEN in Da Nang. From bustling coastlines and urban rhythms to the hidden forests of Son Tra and vibrant marine life, A Shared Place captures the beauty and complexity of this dynamic region. But more than just a celebration of nature, the film is a heartfelt call to protect it. With several species facing endangerment, the documentary reminds us of the urgent need to preserve our shared environment — because this world is not ours alone. A Shared Place invites us to slow down, look closer, and reflect on how we coexist with the natural world.
Meet Taya Xiao Skaaning
Hailing from Denmark, Taya recently completed her bachelor’s degree in architecture and design in the summer of 2024. Though her academic background may seem far from community work or conservation at first glance, her perspective reshapes the definition of design. For Taya, architecture is not about buildings, it’s about vision, communication, sustainability, and inclusion of people, animals, and nature alike.
Her journey has gradually shifted toward education and storytelling, with a growing passion for using communication as a tool to inspire awareness and change. A lifelong animal lover, Taya has long dreamed of becoming a wildlife photographer. Her deep concern for climate change and the endangerment of animals fuels her creative drive to capture stories through photography and film.
From volunteering to promote universal design and mental health in Denmark, to working at a hostel in Portugal, and supporting students in a private school in a rural province of Cebu, the Philippines, Taya brings with her a global mindset and a compassionate heart. She sees this project as a unique chance to combine her creative skills, love for animals, and desire to make a positive impact—through visuals, stories, and empathy.
ResilientSea
ResilientSea takes viewers on a short but powerful journey into the fragile world of Da Nang’s coral reefs. In just two and a half minutes, the film shows vibrant fish, colorful corals, and the life that depends on these underwater ecosystems, while also revealing the threats they face from tourism, pollution, and climate change. Amid the challenges, there is hope: new coral buds grow, and locals work to protect the reef. Through immersive visuals and storytelling, ResilientSea is more than a documentary, it is a call to action to safeguard the ocean for future generations.
ABOUT
Meet Bradley
Bradley, 29, from the United States, is a mechanical engineer, traveler, and passionate photographer. He has explored cultures around the world, from hiking the Himalayas and staying at a Buddhist monastery in Nepal to volunteering in Madagascar. During a two-week volunteer placement with VEN, he created a meaningful short film about a local coral reef in Da Nang. Bradley combines creativity, a passion for marine environments, and a flexible, productive working style
Beneath the Waves
Beneath the Waves: A Silent Call for Protection – a short documentary by Junis tells the story of a young woman whose visit to a seafood restaurant leaves her haunted by the sight of captive marine animals. Determined to see them in the wild, she embarks on a journey that leads to the vibrant reefs of Da Nang. Guided by a freediving instructor, she discovers the fragile beauty of life underwater and reflects on the freedom all creatures deserve. With serene visuals and honest reflections, the film is both a personal journey and a quiet call to protect our oceans.
ABOUT
Meet Junis
Junis Appel, 19, from Germany, is a passionate animal and nature lover with a strong interest in photography, videography, and conservation. She grew up surrounded by animals and today cares for two dogs, three cats, and a hamster. In her free time, Junis enjoys dancing hip-hop, playing tennis, and exploring the outdoors through hiking, swimming, and diving. After finishing school, she decided to dedicate time to volunteer projects to actively contribute to wildlife protection. With creativity, curiosity, and a deep motivation to raise awareness for biodiversity, Junis is preparing to study biology and continue her path in conservation.
WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY PROJECT
Between Trees and Roads
“Between Trees and Roads” is a documentary photography project by Andrea Peñafiel Romero, capturing the natural ecosystems of Đà Nẵng with a focus on wildlife—particularly langurs and monkeys. The project not only celebrates the beauty of these animals in their natural habitat but also examines the impact of human activity on their behavior and environment.
ABOUT
Meet Andrea
Andrea Peñafiel Romero, a 27-year-old veterinarian from Madrid, has always been driven by a deep love for animals, travel, and personal growth. After several years working in veterinary hospitals across Spain—specializing in emergency and hospitalization care—she made a bold decision in late 2024 to leave her job and embark on an extended journey through Southeast Asia.
Her goal is to travel not only to explore new cultures and landscapes, but also to grow as a person and give back through meaningful volunteer work. Her background in animal care, combined with a growing interest in wildlife conservation and photography, has inspired her to engage more deeply with environmental and social issues. Andrea sees travel as both a privilege and a responsibility, believing that tourism must be practiced with awareness and respect for local communities and ecosystems.
Her motivation for this project stems from her realization: “Wildlife is a treasure we have. Humans have caused significant harm to nature, and now we have the duty to protect it and there is still a long way to go.” She hopes this project will highlight the ecological richness of Son Tra while raising awareness about the impacts of tourism and how humans should interact with wildlife to avoid having a negative impact on their most vulnerable species.
Unity: a deep dive into the Trảu Xanh Nhỏ
Created by volunteer photographer Catherine (Kate), this short film offers a stunning glimpse into the world of bee-eater birds on Son Tra Peninsula, Vietnam. Through vivid visuals, Kate captures their beauty and behavior while highlighting the fragile link between their ecosystem and our global habits.
Both a celebration and a call to action, her work reminds us of our shared responsibility to protect wildlife and the planet.
