Trinh T. Minh-ha Preps First U.S.-Set Film ‘The Undying Desert’ After Ji.hlava Retrospective

Vietnamese-American filmmaker and theorist Trinh T. Minh-ha has completed editing her new film “The Undying Desert,” her first set in the United States. The announcement came during the Ji.hlava Documentary Film Festival, where a retrospective of her work is being presented. Known for her boundary-pushing films made in Africa, China, Vietnam, and Japan, Minh-ha has long been asked when she would turn her lens on the U.S. “I’ve just finished editing it,” she told Variety. The film marks a significant shift in geography for the 70-year-old artist, whose work blends documentary and experimental forms with feminist and post-colonial critique. While details of the story remain under wraps, the title suggests a meditation on arid landscapes—both literal and metaphorical—and the resilience they demand. For audiences and scholars, the project promises a rare examination of American space through Minh-ha’s distinctive, non-linear approach. As she continues to defy cinematic conventions, “The Undying Desert” could become a landmark in her already influential career. Expect festival premieres to be announced soon.