In his opening address, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Ta Quang Dong, emphasised that the festival has established itself as the nation’s foremost cinematic event, serving as both a celebration of outstanding works and a tribute to the creative talents of Vietnamese cinema.
Under the theme “Vietnamese Cinema – Sustainable Development and International Integration in the New Era”, this year’s festival not only showcases exemplary films but also provides a platform for filmmakers, artists, and audiences to reflect on the development of Vietnamese cinema during the 2023–2025 period.
Running until November 25, the festival presents 144 films across a wide range of genres, including feature films, documentaries, scientific works, and animations.
In addition to the traditional awards recognising films and individuals, this year’s introduces program Certificates of Merit from the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism for the “Distributor of the Most Vietnamese Films from 2023 to 2025”. It also honours both Vietnamese and international contributors who have made significant efforts to advance and promote Vietnamese cinema.
The opening ceremony further highlighted UNESCO's certification of Ho Chi Minh City as a member of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) for film.
This recognition reflects the city's sustained commitment to developing its cultural industries, fostering artistic creativity, and investing in infrastructure and film production environments. It also affirms Ho Chi Minh City’s strong potential to become a leading regional hub for cinema.
