5,500 delegates and audiences attend the opening ceremony of the 2025 Vietnam Film Festival

The information was shared by Mr. Ta Quang Dong, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, at the opening press conference of the 24th Vietnam Film Festival, organized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in coordination with the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City, on the afternoon of November 20 in Ho Chi Minh City.

Attending the event were comrades: Ta Quang Dong, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Head of the Steering Committee of the 24th Vietnam Film Festival; Tran Thi Dieu Thuy, Vice Chairwoman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee, Co-Head of the Steering Committee of the 24th Vietnam Film Festival; Dang Tran Cuong, Director of the Cinema Department, Head of the Organizing Committee of the 24th Vietnam Film Festival; Nguyen Thi Thanh Thuy, Deputy Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Co-Head of the Organizing Committee of the 24th Vietnam Film Festival.

Organizing committee representative at the opening press conference of Vietnam Film Festival 2025. Photo: DUNG PHUONG

At the press conference, People's Artist Nguyen Thi Thanh Thuy, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture and Sports of Ho Chi Minh City, shared that Ho Chi Minh City is committed to creating all favorable conditions and mobilizing maximum resources for the 24th Film Festival to be successful, worthy of its position as a regional film city.

Ho Chi Minh City is honored to host the event in a particularly meaningful context, the city has just been recognized by UNESCO as the first Global Creative City in the field of cinema in Southeast Asia. This shows that the city's cinema development strategy is on the right track, and being recognized at this time creates even more great motivation for the entire industry.

People's Artist Nguyen Thi Thanh Thuy shared about the city's honor in hosting the event. Photo: DUNG PHUONG

Speaking at the press conference, comrade Tran Thi Dieu Thuy said that all preparations in Ho Chi Minh City basically ensure the activities of the event. The city's people are very excited to welcome domestic and international filmmakers to attend the event.

Vice Chairwoman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Tran Thi Dieu Thuy also informed that at the opening ceremony, Ho Chi Minh City will hold a ceremony to receive the UNESCO recognition certificate of the title "Ho Chi Minh City - Global Creative City of Cinema".

Comrade Tran Thi Dieu Thuy, Vice Chairwoman of Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee, spoke at the press conference. Photo: DUNG PHUONG

Providing specific information about the festival's activities, Director of the Department of Cinema Dang Tran Cuong emphasized that, in addition to regular activities, the new point of this year's festival is the program to promote and develop local cinema...

At this series of events, localities will work directly with domestic and international film crews to introduce their potential, landscapes, natural conditions, preferential policies and film production environment; meet and exchange with international experts, producers and consultants on building a strategy for developing the local film industry.

Mr. Dang Tran Cuong, Director of the Department of Cinema, informed in detail about the outstanding activities of the 2025 Vietnam Film Festival. Photo: DUNG PHUONG

Sharing about the fact that this Vietnam Film Festival is being held in the context of many provinces and cities across the country being heavily affected by storms and floods, Deputy Minister Ta Quang Dong said that the organizing committee has prepared a practical support plan: using the account of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Ho Chi Minh City to receive support contributions.

Before each event, the organizers will announce QR codes and account information to call on artists, audiences and all attendees to join hands to support flood victims.

Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Ta Quang Dong answers questions at the press conference. Photo: DUNG PHUONG

At the press conference, the organizing committee representative also provided detailed information about the plan and schedule of events. With the slogan "Vietnamese Cinema - Sustainable Development and International Integration in the New Era", the 2025 Vietnam Film Festival received a total of 202 entries. The Film Selection Committee selected 87 entries for the competition and 57 films were selected to be screened in the panorama program.

Within the framework of the festival, the organizing committee also held two seminars and workshops: "Developing the film industry in the new era" and "Current situation and solutions to attract film crews to localities".

In addition, the Film Festival also has activities: Photo exhibition " Ho Chi Minh City grows with the country through the perspective of Cinema", program to promote and develop local cinema, art program "Music in movies", screening and exchange between film crews with audiences, students, workers of industrial parks...

Reporters from press agencies work at the opening press conference of the 2025 Vietnam Film Festival. Photo: DUNG PHUONG

At the press conference, the organizing committee announced the jury for the categories: Feature Film (8 members) chaired by Dr. Ngo Phuong Lan, Deputy Head of the Subcommittee of Theory and Criticism of Literature and Arts - Central Theory Council, President of the Vietnam Cinema Promotion and Development Association; Documentary and Scientific Film (7 members) chaired by People's Artist Nguyen Thuoc; Animation Film (5 members) chaired by Associate Professor Dr. Do Lenh Hung Tu, President of the Vietnam Cinema Association.

Regarding the awards, in addition to the Film Festival awards for films and individuals in each category, and the audience's vote, the organizing committee also plans to award awards/certificates of merit from agencies, unions and social organizations, including: Certificate of Merit from the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism for "The unit that distributes the most Vietnamese films from 2023 to 2025", Certificate of Merit from the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism honoring Vietnamese and foreign individuals who have made special contributions to the development and promotion of Vietnamese cinema and Certificate of Merit from the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City for films filmed in Ho Chi Minh City.

The opening ceremony of the 24th Vietnam Film Festival, taking place at 8 p.m. on November 21, at Thong Nhat Hall, is expected to have about 5,500 delegates and audiences in attendance, and will be broadcast live on Ho Chi Minh City Radio and Television (HTV). The organizing committee will also distribute 1,500 free tickets to audiences attending the opening ceremony.

Closing ceremony and award ceremony at 8:00 p.m. on November 25, at the Southern Military Theater (No. 140, Cong Hoa Street, Tan Son Nhat Ward, HCMC), live on HTV.

VAN TUAN - DUNG PHUONG

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/5500-dai-bieu-khan-gia-du-khai-mac-lien-hoan-phim-viet-nam-2025-post824521.html