Ho Chi Minh City becomes the first Cinema City of Southeast Asia

On the occasion of World Cities Day (October 31), Director General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Audrey Azoulay has just recognized 58 cities as new members of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network. Of which, Ho Chi Minh City became a new member of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network in the field of cinema.

Ho Chi Minh City becomes the first Cinema City of Southeast Asia.

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 Director-General Audrey Azoulay stressed: "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."

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.

To date, Vietnam has 4 cities that are members of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network: Hanoi (design field, 2019), Hoi An (crafts and folk arts field, 2023), Da Lat (music field, 2023) and Ho Chi Minh City (cinema field).

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.

According to statistics, by 2024, Ho Chi Minh City will have nearly 30,000 enterprises operating in the cultural sector, accounting for about 12.6% of the city's total enterprises and attracting 105,000 workers, contributing about 4.3 billion USD, accounting for 6.2% of the city's GRDP. The city's film industry, with about 935 establishments and more than 100 film producers operating regularly, accounts for about 40% of Vietnam's film screening market.

According to VGP

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/tphcm-tro-thanh-pho-dien-anh-dau-tien-cua-dong-nam-a-267254.htm