Ho Chi Minh City becomes a creative city in the field of cinema

UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay has just recognized 58 cities as new members of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network.

Ho Chi Minh City today. (Photo: HOANG TRIEU)

Accordingly, Ho Chi Minh City becomes a new member of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network in the field of cinema.

Ho Chi Minh City is also the first film city in the UNESCO Creative Cities Network of Vietnam and Southeast Asia.

With these new designations, the Creative Cities Network now includes 408 cities in more than 100 countries.

This year, the UNESCO Creative Cities Network welcomes creative cities of architecture—a new creative sector alongside the seven existing sectors: Crafts and folk arts, design, cinema, gastronomy, literature, media arts and music .

“UNESCO Creative Cities demonstrate that culture and creative industries can be concrete drivers of development.

By welcoming 58 new cities, we are strengthening a network where creativity supports local initiatives, attracts investment and promotes social cohesion,” said UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay.

Since its launch in 2004, UNESCO Creative Cities has actively promoted people-centered urban lifestyles and governance, providing a wide range of cultural and creative activities for citizens.

Following the success of the MONDACULT 2025 Conference, where countries reaffirmed their commitment to culture-led sustainable development, cities will respond to UNESCO's call to establish culture as a global public good.

On February 15, the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee held an international consultation seminar to comment on Ho Chi Minh City's application to join the UNESCO Creative Cities Network.

In order to prepare the dossier most effectively, Ho Chi Minh City organized an international seminar to consult with experts, thereby receiving useful comments for the city's candidacy dossier so that the parties could exchange experiences, share expertise, as well as discuss creative solutions to develop the film industry - the field chosen by Ho Chi Minh City to join the UNESCO Creative Cities Network.

According to experts, choosing cinema, a comprehensive art industry, closely connected with many art fields, not only creates spiritual values, has strong influence, connects communities in society, but also creates economic value, which is expected to create momentum to strongly promote the development of cultural and creative industries in Ho Chi Minh City.

In 2024, Ho Chi Minh City will have 29,861 enterprises operating in the cultural sector, accounting for about 12.6% of the city's total enterprises, with a total charter capital of 20 billion USD and attracting 105,000 workers, contributing 4.3 billion USD, accounting for 6.2% of the city's GRDP.

The film industry with 935 establishments, more than 100 regularly operating film producers, 9,294 employees and revenue of 500 million USD (2024), accounts for about 40% of Vietnam's film screening market.

LINH BAO

Source: https://nhandan.vn/thanh-pho-ho-chi-minh-tro-thanh-pho-sang-tao-tren-linh-vuc-dien-anh-post919684.html