Building new position for Vietnamese cinema in creative industry

The 24th Viet Nam Film Festival will take place in Ho Chi Minh City from November 21 to 25, under the theme “Vietnamese cinema — Sustainable development and international integration in the new era.” The festival is expected to feature more than 200 films and welcome around 1,000 delegates from Viet Nam and abroad. It will honour outstanding artistic values while promoting cooperation, investment, and creativity in the film sector.

Ta Quang Dong, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said this year’s festival introduces many new features. Certificates of merit from the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism will be presented to organisations and individuals with significant contributions to Vietnamese cinema. For the first time, representatives from 34 provincial and municipal departments of culture and sports, departments of culture, sports and tourism, and film centres nationwide will attend to exchange their experience, expand cooperation, and connect domestic and international film crews. In addition, exchange programmes between students of film schools, film lovers, and directors, actors, and international experts will offer young people opportunities to learn and nurture their passion for the seventh art.

Experts noted that during 2024–2025, Vietnamese films have received strong audience support, with the number of box-office hits rising sharply. This reflects the increasing maturity of the creative workforce, the increasing appeal of the domestic film market, and the steady development of the film industry.

Viet Nam now enjoys favourable conditions for sustainable cinematic growth, including infrastructure, technical facilities, studios, filming locations, and human resources. Accordingly, the 24th Viet Nam Film Festival will introduce the latest works of Vietnamese cinema while creating an open space for dialogue and interaction between filmmakers, artists, and audiences. The event will also provide opportunities to learn about public needs and tastes; enhance professionalism in film activities; and facilitate the exchange of experience among artists, managers, producers, and distributors, thereby promoting the development of the film industry.

“The success of many hundred-billion-VND films demonstrates the development of Vietnamese cinema. We now have the foundation to build an advanced film industry that keeps pace with the region and the world,” shared Deputy Minister Ta Quang Dong.

Tran Thi Dieu Thuy, Vice Chairwoman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee, emphasised that the film festival is an opportunity to promote the city’s infrastructure and new image after merger. The city will coordinate with the Viet Nam Film Institute to organise exhibitions and film screenings to serve people, workers, and students and help bring cinema closer to the public.

A highlight of this year’s festival is the series of sideline events and the local film development promotion programme. These activities provide opportunities for filmmakers, artists, businesses, and local leaders to meet, cooperate, and form networks that boost the spread of Vietnamese cinema. The photo exhibition “Ho Chi Minh City rising with the nation through the lens of cinema” introduces the image of a creative metropolis to the public, thereby helping to promote the country and people of Viet Nam in the process of global integration.

People’s Artist Nguyen Thi Thanh Thuy, Deputy Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Culture and Sports, said: “Ho Chi Minh City is the first locality in Viet Nam to be recognised by UNESCO as a Creative City in the field of cinema. Hosting this film festival is an opportunity to honour cinematic art and strengthen connections with international friends.” She added that the city will hold numerous accompanying activities, including music, tourism, and cultural exchange programmes, to introduce the image of a youthful, friendly, and creative Ho Chi Minh City.