Saigon, 1990s. San, a transgender sex worker, longs for the gender-affirming surgery that will allow her to live as her true self. Determined to help her realize that dream, her lover Nam risks everything by entering the underground world of dog-cage fighting. But as their hopes become entangled with violence and exploitation, the young couple must fight to protect their love and humanity.

Special Jury Award winner at the New York Asian Film Festival, SKIN OF YOUTH, the sophomore feature from Independent Spirit Award nominee Ash Mayfair (The Third Wife), is a landmark of contemporary Vietnamese cinema that “shines a light into the shadow economies created by the country’s rapid development” (Buttered Popcorn) while being the nation's first narrative feature to star a transgender actor in a lead role.

“Suspenseful, solid filmmaking... the performances are all excellent.” –Culture Catch

DIRECTED BY ASH MAYFAIR
VIETNAM, SINGAPORE, JAPAN | 2025 | VIETNAM WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES