In Hanoi, Vietnam, tattoo artist Tran Ngoc specializes in the rare and challenging art of tattooing over scars. Despite the social stigma surrounding tattoos in Vietnam, Ngoc empowers her clients, including breast cancer survivors and women with self-harm scars, to reclaim their bodies, demonstrating that her work is a profound act of compassion and resilience.

They Call Me the Tattoo Witch has screened at over 40 international film festivals, including multiple Oscar-, BAFTA-, and BIFA-qualifying events. It premiered with an Oscar-qualifying theatrical run in Fort Worth, Texas, and has won more than a dozen awards. The film continues its festival run through 2025.

Oscar-Qualifying Selections (2025):

  • Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia

  • Doc Edge Festival

  • AmDocs Film Festival

  • St. Louis International Film Festival

  • Hawai‘i International Film Festival

Awards Highlights (2025):

  • Best Short Documentary – Carmarthen Bay Film Festival (BAFTA-Qualifying)

  • Best Short Documentary – Imagine This Women’s Film Festival

  • Best Impactful Story – Female Filmmakers Festival Berlin

  • Best Short Documentary, Best Direction, & Best Cinematography – Sherman Oaks Film Festival

  • Best Documentary & Best Cinematography – Worldwide Women’s Film Festival

    *Selected awards and festivals; full list available on request.

Inspiration

They Call Me the Tattoo Witch began with an inspiring discovery of Tran Ngoc, a maverick tattoo artist featured on the Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia list. Moved by Ngoc’s profound impact on her clients, director Lindsay Nyman reached out to share this story, collaborating with an all-female crew from Hanoi who brought unique perspectives to capture the film’s cultural depth. This short documentary celebrates the strength and resilience of women both in front of and behind the camera.

The film was screened at Texas Movie Bistro in July 2025.
Source: https://www.leadingwomanfilms.com