Over the past decade, Vietnamese cinema has undergone a dramatic transformation. From a film industry that once struggled between market and quality, many works have now reached the world stage, making their mark at prestigious film festivals.
Talented young directors, professional production crews and, above all, the attention of the domestic public are creating a new look for the country's cinema.
However, to develop sustainably, the Vietnamese film industry needs a solid foundation: a modern training system, a supportive policy mechanism, the ability to connect internationally, and a large and open domestic market. In the context of Vietnam's increasingly proactive integration, the organization of international film festivals in Vietnam such as the Da Nang Asian Film Festival, along with cross-border co-production projects are opening many new doors for the country's cinema.
Foundation from good film schools
A film industry that wants to develop in the long term cannot lack a systematic training system. In Vietnam in recent years, film training institutions have had many positive changes, from curriculum to organization methods.
The most prominent are still the leading schools such as Hanoi University of Theatre and Cinema, Ho Chi Minh City, Academy of Journalism and Communication, Van Lang University.
The schools not only provide professional training in directing, screenwriting, cinematography, and editing, but also expand into the fields of film production and media. Notably, some units have cooperated with international film schools to update modern filmmaking trends and build a more practical learning environment.
Along with that, the effective connection model between schools - businesses - film studios has also been effectively implemented by schools. Students being exposed to real production and being able to intern on professional projects is also an important stepping stone for career growth.
The effectiveness of international cooperation projects not only affects the students studying the project but also continues to affect the students of the following courses through the young teaching staff participating in these projects.
Director, Master Nguyen Hong Quan - Head of the Department of Directing, Faculty of Cinematography, Hanoi Academy of Theatre and Cinema shared: "International cooperation projects at the school all have the participation of regular lecturers in coordination, translation and organization. Access to diverse teaching and production methods has given us practical experience in teaching and supporting students in the next courses in their film journey."
Thanks to their professional training, many young Vietnamese directors have gradually affirmed their names in the international arena such as Phan Dang Di, Tran Thanh Huy, Le Bao...
Not only feature films, but also short films by Vietnamese students are increasingly selected to participate in major film festivals in Asia and Europe, bringing confidence to a new generation of filmmakers.
According to Associate Professor - Doctor, Meritorious Artist Phan Thi Bich Ha - Former Principal of Ho Chi Minh City University of Theatre and Cinema, Head of the Faculty of Music, Theatre and Cinema - Van Lang University: "Building cooperation projects in training can both discover and develop talents, solve the problem of human resources, and create long-term influence and development for the Vietnamese film industry.
With digital technology, the model of transnational classrooms, online seminars, and global practical workshops are gradually blurring geographical boundaries. If film schools in Vietnam are more proactive in exploiting this technology, we can design online courses with international experts and lecturers, share learning platforms, and expand students' artistic creativity space."
International spirit - The key to integration
Cinema is a highly global field. International learning, cooperation and exchange are always factors that promote development in terms of technique, content and artistic thinking. In Vietnam, the spirit of international cooperation in the cinema industry was formed early and has become increasingly deeper in recent years.
Many co-production projects between Vietnam and countries such as Korea, Japan, France, and Germany have contributed to creating high-quality films that have won many international awards.
Works such as "The Scent of Green Papaya" (Oscar nomination), "Father and Son," "Hai Phuong," "The Children in the Mist," or the film "Rom" by director Tran Thanh Huy not only resonated domestically but also received support from film funds, directors, and screenwriters of international stature.
Typically, at the 3rd Da Nang Asian Film Festival in 2025, the film Love in Vietnam was premiered, the first film co-production project between Vietnam and India, marking a new step in the cultural cooperation between the two countries.
The film was directed by Indian director Rahhat Shah Kazmi, with many scenes recorded in Da Nang city and famous tourist destinations in Vietnam, creating a great connection between cinema and tourism.
Government policies are also increasingly supporting international cooperation in cinema. Many projects have been developed to support human resource training, script translation, organizing film exchange weeks and inviting international filmmakers to choose Vietnam as a filming location, such as the case of the film “Kong: Skull Island”, which created a huge media fever and opened up many opportunities to promote the country’s image.
According to Producer, International Project Expert Chulsoo Charles Kim - Commissioner of the Korean International Broadcasting Film Festival, Vietnam needs to continue expanding from bilateral cooperation (Korea, Hong Kong) to regional linkages in Southeast Asia with training programs, labs, production networks with countries such as Malaysia, Thailand, and the Philippines to become a production center, not just a place to import content.
According to him, Vietnam can co-produce TV series with actors from Thailand, Korea, and the Philippines, incorporating multinational cultural elements, creating an attractive format with an international platform.
Strategic partnerships with platforms like Netflix, iQIYI, VIU can boost domestic film development with the support of international teams. Vietnam is ready to become the cinema hub of Asia if it combines the above factors well.
Film Festival – Launching pad for Vietnamese cinema
Vietnam becoming the host country of international film festivals has brought great opportunities to develop the film industry. In Vietnam, many events have become meeting places for filmmakers such as the Vietnam Film Festival, the Hanoi International Film Festival and especially the Da Nang Asian Film Festival, which is being held for the third time with many attractive contents and activities.
Not simply organizing events, sideline activities of film festivals such as seminars, talks, outdoor film screenings or talent incubation workshops, the project incubator has expanded the space for exchange between Vietnamese filmmakers, actors and international friends.
At this Da Nang Asian Film Festival, more than 50 young faces from Vietnam, Japan, and Korea were selected to participate in two basic and advanced acting classes for 5 consecutive days. The organizers hope that the 2025 Talent Nurturing Workshop with its in-depth, creative, and innovative training programs will continue to be an acting launch pad for promising film faces in the future.
In particular, the festival also creates a strong motivation for returning directors, film students and independent filmmakers. When their works are selected for screening, participating in pitching sessions at the project incubator, opportunities for learning and career development also open up.
Through these activities, it can be seen that Vietnamese cinema is fully capable of reaching out to regional and global markets if it has a clear strategy and appropriate support resources.
Seize opportunities, reach globally
Development opportunities for Vietnamese cinema are evident, with a young workforce, more focused training facilities, clear integration policies and international film events taking place right in Vietnam.
This is the right time for the film industry to proactively change, from creative thinking to production organization, from distribution model to promotion strategy. Strengthening international cooperation, improving the training environment and expanding the playing field through film festivals are indispensable solutions.
With systematic investment, a spirit of continuous learning and belief in the power of Vietnamese stories, the Vietnamese film industry can completely think of an open future, where cinematic works bearing the image of Vietnamese people and country are not only present in domestic theaters, but also stand shoulder to shoulder with world cinema, so that the Vietnamese voice is not only present, but also listened to, sympathized with and shared on the global screen./.
Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/co-hoi-moi-cho-dien-anh-viet-nam-hanh-trinh-hoi-nhap-va-phat-trien-post1047685.vnp
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