Viet Nam Night was organised by the VFDA within the framework of the 31st Busan International Film Festival (BIFF 2026). The event took place on the evening of October 11, the same day as the opening of the Vietnamese cinema booth at the festival.
Viet Nam Night aimed to introduce the development of Vietnamese cinema, promote localities with potential for film production, and expand cooperation opportunities with the international film industry.
Held at the Westin Josun Busan, Viet Nam Night welcomed many distinguished guests, including Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Viet Nam to the RoK Vu Ho; Chairman of the Busan International Film Festival Park Kwang Su; Director of the Asian Contents & Film Market (ACFM) Ellen Kim; as well as numerous artists, producers, filmmakers, representatives of Vietnamese, Korean, and international film organisations, and VFDA partners.
Bringing Vietnamese cinema to international forums
Speaking at Viet Nam Night, Chairwoman of the VFDA Ngo Phuong Lan expressed her appreciation and gratitude for the presence of Park Kwang Su, Chairman of BIFF, as well as for the attention, support, and affection he has shown to the VFDA and Vietnamese cinema over the years. She emphasised the significance of bringing Vietnamese cinema to international forums while building long-term cooperative relationships among filmmakers, producers, and film organisations.
A highlight of the programme was a video offering an overview of Vietnamese cinema, reflecting the development of the market, production and distribution activities, the presence of Vietnamese works at international film festivals, as well as efforts to develop talent and connect the film industry.
Viet Nam Night was not only a cultural promotion programme, but also an occasion for the international film community to learn directly about the Vietnamese market, projects under development, and potential for production cooperation. The large attendance of partners within the BIFF framework showed the appeal of an event organised in a way that combined film promotion with industry networking.
In addition to activities organised by the VFDA, Vietnamese cinema also had a notable presence in the official programme of BIFF 2026.
The film 1982 by director Nguyen Hoang Diep was selected for the Vision – Asia section; Hearing (Thinh giac) by director Le Bao and Guardian Warriors (Ho linh trang si) by director Nguyen Phan Quang Binh were introduced in A Window on Asian Cinema; while the documentary The Flamboyant Child, the Defiant Child, and the Heartbroken Child (Em be dong bong, em be ngao nghe va em be dau long) by director Nong Nhat Quang joined the Wide Angle Documentary Showcase.
The appearance of Vietnamese works in various sections demonstrated the diversity of genres, themes, and approaches of Vietnamese cinema at this year’s BIFF.
In addition, the trailer for The Third Eye (Con mat thu ba), a horror-themed film by director Ham Tran, was also screened at Viet Nam Night.
Notably, at the 31st Busan International Film Festival, producer Tran Thi Bich Ngoc, a member of the VFDA Executive Committee, was invited to join the BIFF 2026 Jury, chaired by director Zhang Yimou.
Da Nang and Ha Noi invite international filmmakers
At the event, Vice Chairwoman of the Da Nang City People’s Committee Nguyen Thi Anh Thi, delivered a message inviting international filmmakers to Da Nang and to the Da Nang Asian Film Festival (DANAFF), held annually. Through the presentation about the city, Da Nang promoted its potential for film development while affirming its orientation towards strengthening connections with international producers and partners.
Representing the capital, Director of the Ha Noi Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism Pham Tuan Long, also introduced the city and invited international producers to Ha Noi to explore locations, tap into its cultural, historical, and heritage materials, and study opportunities to implement film projects.
The presence of the two localities at Viet Nam Night reflected the orientation of linking film promotion with destination promotion and the attraction of production activities. Rather than merely introducing landscapes, their messages aimed to position Ha Noi and Da Nang as locations for producers to consider when seeking settings and partners in Viet Nam.
During the programme, Nguyen Thi Anh Thi presented a certificate of merit from the Da Nang City People’s Committee to recognise the contributions of Korean artist Kim Haesoo of Idol Nation to DANAFF over the years, showing appreciation for international individuals who have accompanied the development of the festival.
With experienced organisation of activities and events through the Vietnamese cinema booth, thematic discussions, and Viet Nam Night in Busan, the VFDA continued to carry out promotional activities by combining the promotion of works, talent, and production projects with connections among stakeholders in the film industry. Meetings at BIFF not only helped raise the profile of Vietnamese cinema, but also opened up opportunities for cooperation in production, distribution, and project development, as well as for attracting international film crews to Viet Nam.
