The programme ran from July 9 to 22, 2026, under the internship fund of the International Federation of Film Archives (FIAF).
During the 14 days of serious work, two technical experts from Bangladesh — Assistant Engineer Mohammad Rashedul Alam Gazi and Assistant Engineer Smita Barua — joined staff members of the Viet Nam Film Institute in studying many core stages of film archiving, including research into data standards and archive cataloguing; practising film processing, inspection, and preservation; learning about film digitisation and restoration processes, digital preservation systems, and quality control procedures in digital transformation; and practising colour correction, audio-visual synchronisation, and film restoration.
In addition to learning from the Viet Nam Film Institute’s procedures, the Bangladeshi experts also offered highly practical technical advice. The delegation’s receptiveness and professional working style inspired staff members and specialists of the Viet Nam Film Institute, creating an open and effective working environment.
Mohammad Rashedul Alam Gazi shared: “We are deeply impressed by the dedication of your team, from restoring old film materials to operating a modern archive. Seeing first-hand how you preserve the history of Vietnamese cinema has given us many wonderful ideas.”
He also proposed that the Viet Nam Film Institute upgrade its restoration software from version 7 to version 16 to optimise and significantly speed up processing and shorten data export time.
In addition to welcoming the delegation and conducting in-depth professional exchanges, the Viet Nam Film Institute also took the Bangladesh Film Archive delegation to visit historical and cultural relic sites in Ha Noi and Ninh Binh, helping international friends gain a deeper sense of Viet Nam as a safe, friendly, and culturally rich country.
Smita Barua affirmed that the working visit carried significance far beyond an ordinary internship programme. “From the very first day, we were welcomed not merely as international guests, but as valued members of your professional family. This programme is a bridge connecting the two countries through a shared commitment to preserving cultural heritage,” she said.
Speaking at the programme’s closing ceremony, Viet Nam Film Institute Director Le Thi Ha thanked the Bangladesh Film Archive for placing its trust in the institute as a destination for internship and professional exchange. She said this reflected the position and prestige of the Viet Nam Film Institute within FIAF. She also affirmed that the programme was not merely an internship or experience-sharing course but part of a shared mission: preserving national moving image heritage.
At the end of the programme, Director Le Thi Ha presented certificates of internship completion and souvenirs with rich Vietnamese cultural identity to the two Bangladeshi friends.
