Ho Chi Minh City will be the "city of cinema".

The HIFF 2024 Organizing Committee hopes that Ho Chi Minh City will become a "Film City," joining the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN network).

Affirming the position of Ho Chi Minh City and Vietnamese cinema.

HIFF 2024 is an annual event organized by the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Culture and Sports , in coordination with the City Film Association, with the support of the Film Department and members of the advisory board. This is one of the activities within Ho Chi Minh City's strategy to develop the film industry, improve the quality and prestige of the city's cinema, and contribute to promoting the image, culture, and tourism of Ho Chi Minh City to international friends.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh Thuy, Deputy Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Culture and Sports, speaks at the HIFF 2024 launch ceremony. (Photo provided by the Organizing Committee)

Ho Chi Minh City has long intended to host an international film festival, but only now has it found the right conditions to make it happen. Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh Thuy, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture and Sports of Ho Chi Minh City, stated: "HIFF 2024 is an important event, not only for the film industry but also for Ho Chi Minh City. We hope that HIFF 2024 will be a bridge for filmmakers, actors, and audiences from both within and outside the country to exchange, learn, and cooperate in the field of cinema. HIFF 2024 will also be an opportunity to introduce high-quality Vietnamese films, thereby affirming the position and prestige of Vietnamese cinema in general and Ho Chi Minh City in particular on the world film map."

A perspective view of the planned venue for HIFF 2024 activities. (Photo provided by the Organizing Committee)

HIFF 2024 will take place from April 6th to 13th at the City Theatre, Lam Son Park outdoor area - Le Loi Street, District 1. Many activities are expected to attract hundreds of thousands of attendees, including thousands of guests, among whom are approximately 200 filmmakers, directors, and actors from around the world. The HIFF 2024 jury consists of leading experts in the field of cinema from Europe, Asia, America, and Vietnam.

In addition to screening films competing for awards, HIFF 2024 will also host the "Content Industry" and "Film Industry" exhibitions, scheduled to take place on Nguyen Hue pedestrian street. Alongside these will be thematic seminars; meet-and-greet sessions with fans; and other side activities such as music shows and fashion shows featuring famous singers, musicians, designers, and models.

Brand building

Ho Chi Minh City has a rich cultural and historical heritage, a melting pot of cultures, and is also the center of the largest film industry in the country. Therefore, the distinctive traditional culture and core values ​​are what HIFF 2024 aims to highlight to create a unique identity for this event.

Throughout the process of researching and preparing for HIFF 2024, the Organizing Committee received advice from Mr. Kim Dong Ho - founder and former president of the Busan International Film Festival (South Korea); Mr. Jeremy Segay - Audiovisual Attaché for Southeast Asia at the French Embassy; Mr. Jay Choi - former director of Warner Bros (South Korea); Associate Professor Dr. Tran Luan Kim, director Phan Dang Di, director Charlie Nguyen, film critic Le Hong Lam, and others…

Director Charlie Nguyen expressed: "I was very surprised and delighted to be invited to participate by the HIFF 2024 Organizing Committee. It's truly wonderful that Ho Chi Minh City is hosting its first world-class film festival. I have shared and contributed all the information I have about films to the organizing committee. I have also contacted and connected with all the contacts I know in the film industry, inviting them to participate in HIFF 2024."

During the launch event of HIFF 2024, many filmmakers contributed heartfelt ideas, expressing their hope that this event would be a spectacular and successful film festival.

"HIFF 2024 is an event for professionals to compete, network, and seek collaboration opportunities, but above all, it is a film festival to gradually build a brand and become a cultural destination for tourism in Ho Chi Minh City. It's an event expected to give wings to Vietnamese cinema in general and Ho Chi Minh City in particular, enabling it to reach further," emphasized Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh Thuy.

"Besides the joy of networking, learning, and seeking collaboration opportunities in the film industry, we also hope that HIFF 2024 will feature star actors and renowned directors from around the world," director Hoang Nhat Nam excitedly said.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/van-nghe/tp-hcm-se-la-thanh-pho-dien-anh-20230921213723443.htm