Beyond the final frame: the story of “Ket”

When a film reaches its final frame and the lights return, what truly remains is not just a story told but an invitation to connect. This was the heartbeat behind "Kết", a recent project by RMIT Hanoi Cineverse Club: an ending that was, in truth, a beginning.

To celebrate the club’s first anniversary, Cineverse unveils “Kết," a two-part event designed to spark connection beyond stories on screen. More than just a commemorative piece, “Kết” was born from a well-received charity project where Cineverse members and the orphan children shared silent stories of hope, strength, and quiet resilience. Like the last scene of a film that stays with you, “Kết” isn’t an ending. It’s the start of real connections, where memories take shape and stories live on beyond the screen.

The story behind “Kết”

In Vietnamese, the word "Kết" carries layered meanings: “to conclude,” “to tie,” “to bind,” and “to connect.” It was a deliberate choice for the name of the project, embodying both the conclusion of the first cohort of Cineverse Club’s journey and the opening of new spaces for connection and growth.

"I didn’t want this to be seen as the end of our journey," shared Minh Tuan, the project leader. "I wanted it to be understood as a moment of growth, as if our train had simply arrived at its first station, ready to set off toward the next stops that lie ahead."

In this spirit, “Kết” unfolded through two meaningful chapters. First came a charity trip to Thiên Hương Pagoda in Hưng Yên Province, where club members brought the magic of cinema to children who had never watched a film before, sharing laughter, wonder, and moments of heartfelt connection.

ket-cinaverse-cinemaverse-club-members-with-children-of-thien-huong-pagoda

The journey continued at RMIT Hanoi with an exhibition designed to share these silent stories and emotions with the wider university community. Through this project, “Kết” became more than just an idea: it transformed into a living bridge of compassion, understanding, and shared experience.

A day of dreams

At Thien Huong Pagoda, the place came alive with youthful energy. The children, shy at first, soon welcomed the Cineverse team with smiles and laughter. Under the old temple roof, the team turned a quiet courtyard into an open-air cinema, where many kids saw animated stories on screen for the first time. But it didn’t stop at simply movie watching. The children also got to create their own stories, from building simple structures to making simple stop-motion videos. In those playful moments, new voices full of imagination and hope began to shine.

"You could see in their eyes how full of dreams they were," reflected Le Ngan Ha, media executive. "They are so young but already carry such rich inner worlds. Through film, we hoped to nurture seeds of curiosity and creativity."

Moments that stay with Cineverse

"I thought we were bringing a film to the children," shared Hoang Bao Linh, an external affairs member, after returning from Hung Yen. "But what I realised is that we were bringing them a window, a glimpse into new worlds, and a mirror in which they could see their own stories reflected."

ket-cinaverse-two-rmit-students-playing-with-children-2

Mai Chi Nguyen, a media member, reflected, “In cinema, we talk about endings all the time. But through Kết, I saw that endings are rarely endings. They are openings to understanding, to empathy, and to new relationships that may last long after the screen goes dark.”

Beyond the credits

"Cinema teaches us that an ending is never just an ending," said Minh Tuan. "It is always a doorway. In "Kết," we walked through that doorway and discovered that connection is the truest kind of story we can tell."

The second chapter of “Kết” brought these shared moments back to RMIT Vietnam, transforming them into an experience for the wider university community.

Through a carefully curated exhibition, visitors were invited to step into the children’s world to see the spark of wonder in their eyes, to glimpse the building block stop-motion stories they created, and to sense the quiet bonds that had formed between students and the young dreamers of Thien Huong Pagoda. Photographs, behind-the-scenes footage, and personal reflections filled the space, turning it into a living story of empathy, imagination, and connection.

Turning this vision into reality was no small task. The Cineverse team faced logistical hurdles and creative challenges, but in overcoming them, they deepened their understanding of both filmmaking and community engagement.

The journey continues

As Cineverse Club looks ahead to new chapters, the lessons of "Kết" remain close to its heart. The project reminded members that at its heart, storytelling is an act of empathy: a way to bridge differences and discover shared meaning beyond words.

“Kết” was never meant to be an ending. Instead, it became a journey of growth: for the children who dared to dream, for the audience who stepped into their world, and for the club members who learned to listen with open hearts. In every captured frame and every quiet connection formed, one truth stood out: sometimes, when one journey closes, that’s when the most meaningful one truly begins.

Story: This article is written by Nguyen Pham Khanh An - Vice President of External Affairs in RMIT Hanoi Cineverse Club, with input from RMIT Hanoi Cineverse Club. This article does not reflect the views of RMIT Vietnam.

06 August 2025

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Beyond the final frame: the story of “Ket”