This is a panel discussion within the framework of "Vietnam Film Week - Journey of Light," organized by the Vietnam Film Promotion Association (VFDA) and AVSE Global, under the patronage of the Vietnamese Embassy in France.
The seminar aimed to connect culture with the development of the film industry through training and cooperation programs to help Vietnamese cinema develop sustainably and become richer in artistic content.
Furthermore, the event played a role in expanding international connections by bridging the gap between prestigious organizations such as CNC (France), La Fémis Film School, the French Institute (IF Paris), and regional initiatives like DANAFF Talents, contributing to building a support network for young film talents in Vietnam, Europe, and Asia. The seminar also affirmed Vietnam's position as a young, dynamic, and promising film industry, ready to contribute its unique voice to the global film scene.
The event was attended and featured presentations from young directors, producers, representatives from film schools, and many Vietnamese and French experts.
In recent years, young Vietnamese filmmakers have made a significant impact on the global film scene, winning prestigious awards at international film festivals and making it onto the Oscar shortlists. A "youthful wave" with a unique, humane, and distinctive approach is contributing to shaping a new face for Vietnamese cinema.
According to Dr. Ngo Phuong Lan, President of the Vietnam Film Development Promotion Association: “This is a time of extremely impressive development for Vietnamese cinema. The market share of Vietnamese films has seen strong growth, reaching nearly 50% in 2024 compared to 30% before the Covid-19 pandemic; in 2025, the market share of Vietnamese films is expected to reach 65-70%. Many independent and art films have achieved success at international film festivals. A new generation of filmmakers is enthusiastic and full of confidence on their creative path.”
However, Dr. Ngo Phuong Lan also believes that, in order to go further and bring Vietnamese works closer to international audiences, the younger generation of filmmakers still needs more opportunities in training, project development, and professional support - especially in key areas such as post-production, production techniques, or participation in international platforms.
Sharing her thoughts at the seminar, producer Tran Thi Bich Ngoc emphasized that the core of collaborative production lies in mutual understanding: understanding people, personalities, trusting each other, and sharing a common love and aesthetic for the project. According to her, this is the foundation for international and Vietnamese filmmakers to find suitable partners. Based on this, DANAFF Talents, an activity for young filmmakers within the framework of the annual Da Nang Asian Film Festival, aims to build a long-term strategic direction for the formation of a network supporting young filmmakers, closely connecting training institutions, producers, and international organizations, creating a space for European producers to meet young Vietnamese filmmakers and seek collaboration opportunities.
During the discussion, many practical issues faced by young filmmakers were raised. Director Ha Le Diem, whose documentary "Children in the Mist" was shortlisted among the 15 foreign films for the Oscars, shared that one of the biggest challenges for independent documentaries today is the funding problem during post-production: "Post-production funding is always a difficult issue. This is not just my story, but a common challenge for many young Vietnamese documentary filmmakers."
Following these presentations, international speakers further broadened their perspectives on support mechanisms. Michel Plazanet, representing the French National Cinema Centre (CNC), presented figures highlighting the efforts of film funds and the clear progress of Vietnamese projects: “Of the 24 projects receiving financial support from CNC, 7 are from Vietnam. While typically each country accounts for only about 13% of the projects, this year Vietnam reached 29% – a truly impressive figure. This demonstrates that Vietnamese projects are of high quality and highly competitive.”
Following up on the data and assessments from CNC, producer Christophe Bruncher (founder of the Ties That Bind program, visiting lecturer at La Fémis, sharing a model for connecting and training Asian-European talent) delves into the conditions under which a project can enter into international collaboration.
He emphasized that before seeking foreign partners, the project must be firmly established in its home country: “To have international co-production, the project must first be sufficiently developed in its home country. It doesn't need to be 100% complete, but it must be clear enough for international partners to see its vitality and potential. The structure of the co-production contract is open and flexible, and both parties can design the most suitable cooperation model for the project.”
From the perspective of ensuring the feasibility of international production, Mr. Bruncher also shared his thoughts on the current promising landscape of the Vietnamese market: “I believe now is a very opportune time to co-produce with Vietnam. Vietnamese independent films have recently achieved considerable success at international film festivals. At the same time, Vietnamese cinema is thriving: box office revenue is growing, and it's gratifying to see more and more people going to the movies, something we hope to see everywhere.”
Alongside his perspectives on production, director Flavyen Dupont, a lecturer in Film Production and Post-Production at ISCOM Paris, added an interesting observation about the creative potential between the two film industries, especially after watching the inaugural film "Battle in the Air": "Vietnamese cinema truly offers many surprises. A Franco-Vietnamese co-production project can open up countless avenues: from horror and thriller to art house or commercial films… anything can become creative material."
From a training perspective, Professor Anna Le Van Ra – who has worked with many young Vietnamese filmmakers – has a special appreciation for the new generation of creative minds: “I have had the opportunity to work with a number of young Vietnamese directors, screenwriters, and cinematographers. What I greatly appreciate about them is their creativity, dynamism, practicality, and excellent collaborative spirit. I think that from now on we can continue to go further in exchanges on film cooperation between France and Vietnam, especially focusing on young talents.”
Concluding the discussion, Christophe Bruncher reiterated that the present moment presents a golden opportunity for two-way connections: “Vietnamese cinema is thriving: box office revenue is growing, and it’s gratifying to see more and more people going to the movies. This is a great opportunity to collaborate with Vietnam, a country witnessing a film boom, with many new production companies rapidly developing, something that was unheard of 10 years ago.”
With strong interest from audiences and the filmmaking community in France, the event is expected to become a stepping stone for long-term collaborations, contributing to bringing Vietnamese cinema to the world with high-quality, diverse, and distinctive works.
Source: https://nhandan.vn/nha-lam-phim-tre-viet-nam-tim-co-hoi-hop-tac-with-dien-anh-phap-post930071.html
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