Vietnam at the Cannes Film Festival: A springboard for global cinema collaborations!

Vietnam at the Cannes Film Festival: A springboard for global cinema collaborations!

Vietnam recently highlighted its participation in the 78th Cannes Film Festival, a key component of which was the organization of a workshop entitled “Vietnam – Dynamic Asian Market, Destination for International Film Crews”. This workshop was attended by prominent representatives of the Vietnamese film and tourism industry, including Dinh Toan Thang, Ambassador of Vietnam to France, and Nguyen Trung Khanh, Director of the National Tourism Administration. This event took place as part of Vietnam's efforts to position itself as a major player in the international film market and promote film collaborations. Thus, Khanh highlighted the rise of international cooperation projects in Vietnamese cinema, which also underlines the importance of cinema as a “cultural and tourism messenger” to promote dialogue and understanding between nations, such as vietnam.vn reported.

Another highlight of the workshop was the presentation of the beauty of Vietnamese tourist destinations and filming locations by the cultural and sports departments. Nguyen Trung Khanh also highlighted the willingness of Vietnamese actors to participate in international projects. The Vietnamese booth at the Cannes Film Market served to promote the attractiveness of Vietnam in both cinema and tourism, with the aim of inviting international filmmakers to Vietnam.

Opportunities and challenges for the film industry

The Vietnamese film industry faces many challenges, but also significant opportunities. Dr. Ngo Phuong Lan, president of the Vietnam Cinema Promotion and Development Association, emphasized that Vietnam has great potential for the film industry through its natural landscapes, skilled workforce and improved infrastructure. At the same time, she pointed out that since the 1990s, many cooperative programs have been launched to provide professional support and resources to Vietnamese talents. This has been reinforced by the participation of Vietnamese filmmakers in international festivals, including the recognition of films such as “Children of the Mist” by Hà Lệ Diễm, the first Vietnamese documentary to be nominated for an Oscar in 2022, as vietnamnews.vn reported.

The need to create incentives and policies that facilitate investment in the film industry was frequently raised. Dinh Toan Thang and other experts cautioned that Vietnam has struggled to attract major film collaborations since the early 1990s. Ninh Binh and Quang Ninh were mentioned as specific locations that are already filming locations for international productions.

Film festivals and educational opportunities

Another step to promote the Vietnamese film industry is supported by regional film festivals such as the Da Nang Asian Film Festival (DANAFF), which was held for the first time in 2023. DANAFF provides a platform for Asian and Vietnamese films while promoting visual and technical education through initiatives such as the FLY Post lab. Such events not only increase the visibility of Vietnamese films, but also promote networking within the industry.

The challenge remains to improve support for young filmmakers and to establish educational institutions for cinema. Although the Vietnamese film industry is considered the fastest growing in Asia, visual effects in particular are often in the hands of small companies, while foreign companies dominate the market.