MEETING AND EXCHANGE WITH VIETNAMESE FILMMAKERS IN FRANCE
Promoting Vietnamese Cinema Across Europe
Paris, December 7, 2025 – At the Vietnamese Cultural Center in France (13th arrondissement, Paris), the Meeting and Exchange with the Vietnamese Film Crew took place in a warm, lively, and emotional atmosphere, drawing a large audience of French viewers, the Vietnamese community across Europe, and international friends of cinema.
The event was part of Vietnam Film Week – The Journey of Light, organized by the Vietnam Film Development Association (VFDA) in collaboration with AVSE Global, under the patronage of the Vietnamese Embassy in France.
Vietnamese Film Crew Connecting with the International Community
The exchange brought together key members of Vietnamese cinema and the Vietnamese artistic community in Europe, including actress Linh Đan Phạm – the French-Vietnamese actress and César award winner for Indochine; the crew of Hijacked (2025) featuring Kaity Nguyen, Bao Dinh, and Hieu Nguyen; People’s Artist Huu Muoi Nguyen (When the Tenth Month Comes); and actress Tu Oanh Le (Don’t Cry, Butterfly).
The program also featured directors and filmmakers such as Thai Huyen Dang (Red Rain), Quang Trung Dam (Elephants by the Roadside), Le Diem Ha (Children in the Mist), screenwriter Quynh Trang Nghiem (Culi Never Cries), producer Thi Bich Ngoc Tran, and many other directors, actors, and production managers participating in the week-long event.
A Bridge Between Artists, Audiences, and Vietnamese Stories
The exchange served not only as a meeting opportunity but also as a bridge for international audiences and the Vietnamese diaspora in France to get closer to Vietnamese cinema – through authentic behind-the-scenes stories, the challenges behind each film, and the ambition to bring Vietnam’s image to the world.
The Vietnamese Ambassador to France, Mr. Toan Thang Dinh, said: “We welcome these efforts and hope the Vietnamese community in France will continue to contribute strongly to the homeland, especially in arts and cinema. Through this meeting, we have the chance to better understand the development of Vietnamese cinema and hear directly from the crew about their experiences and aspirations.”
Vietnamese Voices on the Global Cinema Stage
Dr. Phuong Lan Ngo, President of the Vietnam Film Development Association, recalled with emotion the milestone of Linh Dan Pham returning to Vietnam to film Indochine – a pivotal moment in connecting Vietnamese and French cinema since the early 1990s.
She emphasized the foundational role of French projects shot in Vietnam in bringing Vietnamese cinema closer to European audiences, adding: “This path must continue steadily and persistently, and most importantly, it must carry the Vietnamese voice – a voice with stories and influence capable of reaching international audiences.”
International Audiences Impressed by the Depth and Innovation of Vietnamese Films
The exchange drew numerous questions from international audiences and the Vietnamese community in France, covering topics such as innovations in Vietnamese cinematic language, production techniques and special effects, the journey of independent Vietnamese films in international markets, and how the crew preserves cultural identity in their creative work.
Cam Linh, an audience member living in Paris, shared her impressions: “Events like this help us understand the behind-the-scenes of filmmaking—stories we rarely hear. The closeness and sincerity of the crew make this experience truly valuable.”
More than a simple conversation, the program affirmed the strong connection between artists, audiences, and organizations working to promote Vietnamese cinema internationally. The event’s success helped amplify the values of Vietnam Film Week – The Journey of Light while demonstrating a steadfast commitment to expanding creative horizons and bringing Vietnam’s image closer to global audiences.
