Vietnamese Cinema Takes Center Stage: Inaugural Film Week to Illuminate Paris in December 2025
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A celebration of Vietnamese storytelling is set to captivate audiences in Paris next year, as the first-ever Vietnamese Film Week unfolds from December 5 to 12, 2025. The event will showcase the breadth and depth of Vietnamese cinema, from wartime narratives to contemporary dramas, culminating in a screening of Red Rain, Vietnam’s highest-grossing film of all time.
The inaugural week will open with a screening of Airborne Duel, another recent box office success in Vietnam, and close with Red Rain. Both films represent a new wave of commercial and critical acclaim for Vietnamese filmmakers, having collectively earned approximately USD 38.5 million domestically.
A Journey Through 50 Years of Vietnamese Film
Seventeen films have been carefully selected to offer a panoramic view of Vietnamese cinema over the past half-century. The program encompasses feature films, documentaries, and short films, reflecting the nation’s complex history and evolving identity. According to a senior official, the selection aims to portray “a modern Vietnamese identity and mirror the country’s integration into global cultural discourse.”
The event is a collaborative effort between the Vietnam Film Development Association (VFDA) and AVSE Global, operating under the patronage of the Vietnamese Embassy in France. It also marks the launch of “Vietnam – The Symphony of Love,” a broader cultural initiative spearheaded by AVSE Global to promote Vietnamese culture on a global scale.
“A Journey of Light” – Reflecting Cinematic Evolution
This year’s theme, “Vietnamese Cinema – A Journey of Light,” was chosen by Dr. Ngo Phuong Lan, Chairwoman of the VFDA. Despite not speaking French, Dr. Lan explained that the phrase encapsulates the evolution of Vietnamese filmmaking – “from wartime to peace, from renovation to modernity” – and its arrival in Paris, the “City of Light.” The term Lumière, meaning “light” in French, also holds significance as the name of the Lumière brothers, pioneers of cinema. “I believe this film program will live up to its name,” Dr. Lan stated.
Beyond Blockbusters: A Diverse Selection of Stories
The festival will feature both established classics and contemporary works, offering a nuanced portrayal of Vietnam’s journey through war, reunification, and economic reform in the 1980s and 1990s. Alongside Airborne Duel and Red Rain, the program includes titles such as When the Tenth Month Comes, The Abandoned Field, The Tenants, Retired General, Don’t Be Afraid, Bi!, Children of the Mist, Cu Li Never Cries, Yellow Flowers on the Green Grass, Rain on Butterfly Wings, Glorious Ashes, Be Awake and Ready, Clouds but No Rain, Somewhere Near the Hospital, The Elephants by the Road, and Song Lang.
These films were chosen for their “depth, diversity, and creativity,” offering daring modern perspectives alongside historical narratives.
Fostering Collaboration and Cultural Exchange
A press briefing held simultaneously in Hanoi and Paris on November 14, attended by Vietnamese Ambassador to France Dinh Toan Thang, AVSE Global Chairman Dr. Nguyen Duc Khuong, and Dr. Ngo Phuong Lan, generated significant interest from French media. The event is seen as a valuable opportunity to promote not only Vietnamese cinema but also the country’s rich culture and heritage.
The Vietnamese Film Week in Paris will extend beyond film screenings to include a panoramic photography exhibition, public dialogues with emerging filmmakers, and industry collaboration forums. Special screenings will be held at prestigious venues like Le Grand Rex and Pathé Palace. These activities are designed to encourage creative dialogue and forge new partnerships between Vietnamese and European film communities, potentially launching future international projects.
Every screening promises to be a “cultural voyage into Vietnam’s history and soul,” honoring the creativity of contemporary Vietnamese filmmakers and the generations who shaped the nation’s cinematic identity. The event aims to celebrate the vibrancy of Vietnamese cinema and establish a lasting bridge between cultures.
