A notable achievement has emerged from Park City, Utah, as alumnus Douglas Emerson's film, "Y Vân: The Lost Sounds of Saigon," has secured a spot in the Top 10 films at DOC NYC, one of the most prestigious documentary film festivals in the United States. The film made its world premiere at the festival in November 2025 and has since been lauded for its unique storytelling and cultural significance. The documentary is co-directed by Khoa Ha and Victor Velle and tells the poignant story of the late Vietnamese songwriter, producer, and arranger Y Vân, whose musical legacy has been largely forgotten since his death in 1992. Emerson, who graduated from Park City High School in 2014, expressed his excitement about the film's recognition. "DOC NYC has been a big dream of mine for a long time," he said. "So to get the film in for competition and make the Top 10 most popular films was very exciting." The inception of the film dates back eight years when Emerson first met Ha, Y Vân’s granddaughter, who approached him with a collection of her grandfather's sheet music. Her passion for the music was palpable, even though she was unsure about how to translate her vision into a film. "She had found one song of his, and she was in this zone where she wanted to tell the story but didn’t know how because she wasn’t a filmmaker," Emerson recalled. Recognizing the potential of Ha’s idea, he provided her with a checklist for research and the foundational steps necessary to initiate the project. Over the course of three years, Ha delved into her grandfather's life and career, gathering information that would ultimately lead to the film's realization. Emerson shared, "After Khoa had done all the research, she came back and said, ‘Let’s make this movie.’ And I told her I wanted to make this movie the second I saw the first piece of sheet music and that I was honored she chose me." As the project unfolded, Emerson and Ha enlisted Velle as co-director. Emerson described Velle as a longtime friend and collaborator, having worked together on previous films, including their first feature, "8 Billion Angels." The collaboration proved to be a fruitful partnership, blending the fresh perspective Ha brought as a newcomer with Velle’s seasoned experience. Emerson emphasized the importance of Ha’s role in the film, saying, "I told Victor that even though Khoa hadn’t made a film before, she was the authenticity of the story. She needed to direct the story, but since she would be on screen for almost the entirety of the film, he needed to direct her as the character." This creative dynamic fostered an environment where Ha could grow into a proficient filmmaker, while Velle shaped the narrative into its final form. Throughout the production process, the team faced numerous challenges, which Emerson likened to a series of puzzle pieces. He noted, "They say you make a film three times: in pre-production, during production, and again in post-production. Each had their own challenges." One of the initial hurdles was narrowing down the vast story of Y Vân’s legacy, which spans three generations and two countries. Emerson stated, "We helped Khoa understand that we wouldn’t be able to tell all of that story in 90 minutes." During production, the logistics of filming in Vietnam with a team of 35 people presented another layer of complexity. Emerson described it as a mix of adventure and camaraderie, likening it to the film "Planes, Trains and Automobiles." However, the most daunting challenge emerged in post-production, where the team had to sift through an astonishing 90 hours of footage to curate a coherent narrative for the final cut. "Only 1% of that ended up in the movie," Emerson remarked, highlighting the rigorous editing process involved in documentary filmmaking. Ultimately, the film not only chronicles the professional journey of Y Vân but also serves as a lens into the cultural history of Vietnam. Emerson explained, "The war is a very traumatic moment for those who live there and for the ex-pats who moved to the United States, and they still don’t talk too much about it." The film addresses these generational divides and the cultural weight of Y Vân's music. Emerson recalled the moment they received news of the film’s acceptance into DOC NYC, sharing an emotional experience with Ha in Vietnam when they learned of their selection. "To me, it’s about getting the film the recognition it deserves and getting the story out into the world," he said. This sentiment was amplified when the film landed in the festival's Top 10, an achievement Emerson described as honoring Y Vân’s legacy and the millions who appreciate his music. Looking ahead, Emerson and the team are planning additional screenings in California and a distribution campaign in Vietnam. They aim to reintroduce Y Vân’s music to audiences who have long been disconnected from it, dubbing the film a "cultural time machine". Emerson noted, "Y Vân never sold his rights, so the family owns the music, and we’re able to rerelease all of his hits back to the world." A soundtrack is set to be released this summer alongside the film’s global launch, featuring remixes by emerging Vietnamese artists. For more information about "Y Vân: The Lost Sounds of Saigon," visit yvan.film. Emerson’s journey from a high school graduate in Park City to a celebrated film producer exemplifies the power of storytelling and the impact of cultural heritage in contemporary cinema.