Diverse and vibrant

The 14th Francophone Film Festival in Vietnam will take place from March 22-27 and is open to the public free of charge. This is one of a series of events to celebrate International Francophone Day (March 20).

Liên hoan phim Pháp ngữ lần thứ 14 tại Việt Nam

Mr. Pierre du Ville - Head of the Wallonie-Bruxelles Delegation in Vietnam (left) at the opening ceremony of the 14th Francophone Film Festival in Hanoi . (Photo: Ngan Hanh)

On the evening of March 22nd, the 14th Francophone Film Festival in Vietnam opened at the Vietnam National Documentary and Scientific Film Studio in Hanoi and the DCINE Ben Thanh cinema in Ho Chi Minh City. This event was organized by the Asia-Pacific Regional Office of the International Organization of Francophonie (OIF), the Embassies of Canada, France, and Switzerland, and the Wallonie-Bruxelles Delegation in Vietnam.

Attending the first screening of the 14th Francophone Film Festival were Yolande Moreau, director of the film "The Funny Swindlers," representatives of the International Organization of Francophonie in Vietnam, representatives of the Canadian, French, and Swiss Embassies, and the Wallonie-Bruxelles Delegation.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the 14th Francophone Film Festival in Hanoi, Mr. Pierre du Ville, Head of the Wallonie-Bruxelles Delegation in Vietnam, expressed his welcome to Vietnamese audiences to enjoy outstanding French-language films, thereby improving their understanding and appreciation of the French language.

With the theme of International Francophone Day 2024 being "The diversity and vitality of the Francophone community present everywhere in the world ," this is the guiding principle for the organizers in selecting the films to be screened at this year's Francophone Film Festival in Vietnam.

A large audience was enthusiastic about the 14th Francophone Film Festival in Vietnam. (Photo: Ngan Hanh)

Throughout the film festival week, audiences in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City will enjoy captivating French-language films suitable for all ages: "The Hilarious Swindlers," "Viking," "A Business Trip to the Land of Ch'tis," "Brilliant Ashes," "The Road to Glory," and notably, the Cambodian-produced film "The White House." It's clear that the films in this festival are not only from France and French-speaking countries, but also produced by filmmakers in Southeast Asia.

Ms. Tran Thi Thu Ha, representative of the International Organization of Francophonie for the Asia-Pacific region (REPAP-OIF), shared that the purpose of OIF in general and its Asia-Pacific regional office in particular is to spread the French language to more people in Vietnam.

"The film festival is also a way to promote different cultures within the French-speaking community, particularly through films," emphasized Ms. Tran Thi Thu Ha.

Besides the Francophone Film Festival, to celebrate International Francophone Day, OIF also organizes various activities related to Francophone education at universities, bilingual middle schools, high schools, and international schools in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, as well as cultural and sports activities such as the Francophone Run held on March 24th in Hanoi.