Journey to bring Vietnamese cinema to the 'capital of light'

Hành trình đưa điện ảnh Việt Nam đến — *Overview of the online meeting between Vietnam and France.*

In Hanoi, a special international press conference was held online from both Hanoi and Paris. This was also the official meeting to inform about the ' Vietnamese Cinema - Journey of Light' Week, which will take place from December 5-12 at Le Grand Rex cinema. The event attracted representatives of the Vietnamese Embassy in France, the organizing committee, artists, directors, filmmakers, and press and media agencies of Vietnam and France.

The theme ' Vietnamese Cinema - Journey of Light' was directly selected by Dr. Ngo Phuong Lan, President of the Vietnam Film Promotion and Development Association (VFDA). Sharing from Hanoi, Dr. Ngo Phuong Lan said that the idea of the name came from the spirit of the Week: A journey of Vietnamese cinema from war to peace , from the Doi Moi period to the modern period, where cinema became a stream reflecting the strong rise of the country. It is also a journey to bring Vietnamese cinema to the capital of light - Paris.

Ms. Ngo Phuong Lan emphasized that the word 'Lumière' - meaning 'Light' in French - has many special layers of meaning: it not only evokes the image of Paris, but also recalls the Lumière brothers, the pioneers who gave birth to the world cinema industry with the invention of the Cinématographe projector in 1895. 'I believe that this film screening program will be worthy of the name we have entrusted to it,' Dr. Ngo Phuong Lan expressed.

Accordingly, 17 typical selected films are those that have been selected and won awards at major international film festivals such as Hawaii, Cannes, Busan, Berlin, Nantes..., as well as high awards in Vietnam: When October Comes, Wild Fields, Apartments, Retired Generals, Don't Be Afraid, Children in the Dew, Coolie Never Crys, I See Yellow Flowers on the Green Grass, Rain on Butterfly Wings, Glorious Ashes, Wake Up and Be Ready, Clouds But Not Rain, Somewhere by the Hospital, Elephants by the Roadside, Song Lang and newly produced films that are cultural and social phenomena in Vietnam such as Red Rain, Death Battle in the Air - premiered for the first time in Europe. The event was co-organized by the Vietnam Film Promotion and Development Association (VFDA) and AVSE Global, under the auspices of the Embassy of Vietnam in France.

This is also the opening activity for the cultural program series 'Vietnam - Symphony of Love' initiated by AVSE Global, aiming to promote Vietnamese culture to the world through creative, unique and profound forms.

According to Mr. Dinh Toan Thang, Ambassador of Vietnam to France: 'The Vietnam Cinema Week in Paris is an opportunity to discuss in more depth the development of Vietnamese cinema, seek support, and expand new connections with French filmmakers. Thereby, we aim for stronger cooperation projects in the future, contributing to creating new marks in the Vietnam-France cultural cooperation relationship and contributing to a better future'.

Each screening will open a journey to explore Vietnamese culture, history and people through the language of cinema. According to Dr. Ngo Phuong Lan, the Vietnamese Cinema Week in Paris is an opportunity for international audiences to look back on nearly half a century of Vietnamese cinema - a place that reflects the nation's 'journeys of light': the light of peace after the war, the strong changes in the Doi Moi period and the modern appearance of the country in the industrialization and modernization period.

Stories of life, human destiny and social change are expressed through rich cinematic language, from classic to modern styles, from popular films to authorial films, creating a diverse, emotional and deeply Vietnamese creative flow.

Speaking about the significance of the event, according to Prof. Nguyen Duc Khuong, Executive Director of EMLV Business School (France), Chairman of AVSE Global, said: 'Vietnam Cinema Week in Paris is not only a cultural event, but also a bridge of emotions, knowledge and national pride. We wish to introduce to international friends a dynamic, humane and inspiring Vietnam, where the past and present blend together, towards a prosperous and sustainable future'.

Mr. Khuong further emphasized: 'Cinema, with its power to spread across borders, is the door for the world to understand Vietnam. Not only stopping in Paris, this is the first step in the journey to bring Vietnamese cinema to many other countries, expanding the global network of cultural and artistic cooperation'.

The 'Vietnamese Cinema - Journey of Light' Week is also a testament to the power of connection between the community of intellectuals, artists and Vietnamese culture lovers around the world. The event was formed from the spirit of volunteerism and cooperation of many generations of Vietnamese people in different fields - from cinema, academia to media - sharing the same aspiration to introduce Vietnamese culture to the world and shape a portrait of a modern, integrated and humane Vietnam.

At the online press conference, many French journalists from famous newspapers such as Le Figaro, Le Monde... and other specialized magazines asked many questions about the appearance of contemporary Vietnamese cinema as well as the development of the film industry in Vietnam today.

Trailer 'Fight to the Death in the Sky' - the opening film of 'Vietnamese Cinema Week' in France:

It is known that the Vietnamese Cinema Week in Paris will be attended by cultural activists, film experts, Vietnamese filmmakers including famous directors, producers, actors and artists. In addition to the film screenings, the Vietnamese Cinema Week in Paris program also includes: a panoramic photo exhibition on Vietnamese cinema; exchanges and discussions with film lovers and young filmmakers; a seminar on Vietnamese-French cinema cooperation; special screenings and the opening and closing ceremonies solemnly held at Le Grand Rex and Pathé Palace cinemas.

This is an opportunity to promote dialogue and cooperation between Vietnamese and European cinema, as well as create a bridge for future creative projects — continuing the journey of bringing Vietnamese cinema closer to the world, from Paris and beyond.

According to VNA

Source: https://baohaiphong.vn/hanh-trinh-dua-dien-anh-viet-nam-den-thu-do-anh-sang-526806.html