SEMINAR “VIETNAM AND FRANCE CINEMA: OPPORTUNITIES FOR COOPERATION”
The seminar themed “Vietnam and France Cinema: Opportunities for Cooperation” took place at 2:30 PM on December 4, 2025, at the Vietnam Cultural Center in France (19 rue Albert, 75013 Paris). This event was a key highlight of Vietnam Film Week – The Journey of Light, creating a space for in-depth dialogue among managers, experts, producers, and artists from both countries regarding the development strategy and international integration of Vietnamese cinema in the new context.
The event was attended by distinguished Vietnamese and international guests:
– Mr. Dinh Toan Thang, Ambassador of Vietnam to France
– Ms. Ngo Phuong Lan – Chairperson of the Vietnam Film Development Association (VFDA), former Director of the Vietnam Cinema Department
– Mr. Mathieu Ripka – General Delegate of ARP (Société civile des Auteurs-Réalisateurs-Producteurs), the Civil Society of Authors-Directors-Producers
– Major General Do Trieu Phong – Director of the People’s Public Security Communications Department
– Ms. Tran Thi Bich Ngoc – Producer of famous domestic and international films, one of the representative faces of modern Vietnamese cinema
Along with the participation of many Vietnamese and French artists, filmmakers, and film critics actively working in creative, production, and distribution fields.
Strengthening multi-dimensional connection and cooperation between Vietnamese and French cinema
The seminar took place against a backdrop of positive shifts in Vietnamese cinema: Vietnamese films are consistently appearing at prestigious international festivals, the creative force is maturing, and the domestic market is showing clear signs of growth. Notably, in recent years, Vietnam has successfully organized international film festivals like HANIFF and DANAFF in major cities such as Hanoi and Da Nang, gradually building professional prestige within the region. Simultaneously, the Vietnamese Government’s strategy for developing cultural industries by 2030 identifies cinema as one of seven key sectors. This serves as a crucial foundation for the film industry to break through and integrate deeper globally.
Within this trend, strengthening connections with developed film industries, particularly France – a nation with a complete cinematic ecosystem and advanced support mechanisms – is a key factor in helping Vietnamese films expand their market and improve international competitiveness. Mr. Dinh Toan Thang, Ambassador of Vietnam to France, emphasized: “In recent times, Vietnam-France exchanges have been vibrant across many fields. Along with that, the cinema industries of both countries are also exploring increasingly effective and significant avenues for cooperation to better serve the development of each nation’s cinema.”
Speaking at the seminar, Mr. Mathieu Ripka expressed: “Why not set a beautiful goal: this year, a French-Iranian co-production represents France at the Oscars; and it is entirely possible to imagine that one day, a French-Vietnamese co-production will also represent France at the Oscars. Vietnam is clearly an inseparable part of this story, with a large number of Vietnamese people living in France, as well as many French people of Vietnamese origin. The two countries will continue to exchange, especially in the field of cinema, between artists of both sides, and that very thing will contribute to maintaining and developing this fine relationship.”
The event aims to open up new cooperative connections between Vietnamese and French film organizations, promoting the exchange of human resources, technology, production, and distribution; simultaneously contributing to elevating the image of Vietnamese cinema on the international stage. This is not only a professional activity but also a meaningful cultural bridge in promoting the sustainable development of the Vietnamese film industry.
Young filmmaker Le Binh Giang excitedly shared: “As a young filmmaker, I always wish to find opportunities to cooperate with international filmmakers, especially in France—the cradle of many talented directors and famous films. I hope to learn from and collaborate with filmmakers and film funds in France to get closer to world cinema. In the future, I also hope there will be more cooperation programs between France and Vietnam to mutually promote the development of both countries’ cinema. When developing together, we not only create value for cinema but also contribute to promoting culture, tourism, and the image of Vietnam internationally.”
Speakers analyzed bilateral advantages, from France’s developed cinematic ecosystem to Vietnam’s young creative resources and expanding market, to point out feasible directions for cooperation in production, training, distribution, and international promotion. According to Dr. Ngo Phuong Lan, Vietnam is at a moment of significant cinematic development, especially 2025 – a year marking a leap in the market share of Vietnamese films and the growth of the Vietnamese film market. Particularly in recent times, many Vietnamese films, young filmmakers, and independent creators have produced works that are welcomed, recognized, and awarded at international film festivals. Crucially, the creative atmosphere and filmmaking environment in Vietnam today are fueled by weekly and monthly successes in theaters and the broader market. It stimulates investors and filmmakers not only in Vietnam but also in some Asian countries and globally to come to Vietnam. “I hope that 2026 will be a year of stronger, more effective development, truly bringing more concrete and effective results in Vietnam-France film cooperation.”
Specific proposals and solutions
Drawing from practical experiences, the Seminar aimed to propose solutions to help the two film industries increase exchange, effectively exploit each other’s resources, and create projects capable of competing in the global market. Mr. Mathieu Ripka affirmed: “This cooperation can still be further expanded, especially in the field of distribution: creating conditions for French films to access the Vietnamese market and Vietnamese films to access the French market. And finally, why not consider the field of cinema operation, which is also a strength of France. We have cinema systems everywhere in the territory, and we are very knowledgeable in this field of operation. All of that requires much more exchange.”
Attending the seminar, Ms. Tran Thi Bich Ngoc observed: “Looking back at the history of Vietnamese cinema development, it is clear that in recent years, Vietnamese and French cinema have cooperated at a better level. Previously, we only provided services, but now we are moving towards co-production. In this model, French producers accompany Vietnamese directors to create together, own the film together, and bring the film to the world together.”
Dr. Ngo Phuong Lan shared: “Finally, we cannot fail to mention the intense aspiration to bring Vietnamese cinema to the world by organizations such as the Vietnam Film Development Association (VFDA) and AVSE Global, under the patronage of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism; the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam, and the Vietnamese Embassy in France. We expect to create a program that will certainly leave a mark on Vietnamese cinema specifically and on Vietnam-France friendship in general, not only today but also in the future.”
The seminar “Vietnam and France Cinema: Opportunities for Cooperation” is one of the key activities of the “Vietnam Film week – The Journey of Light”, contributing to promoting cultural exchange, strengthening Vietnam-France cooperation, and affirming the strong development potential of Vietnamese cinema in the new period. The seminar focused on clarifying cooperation opportunities between Vietnamese and French cinema through in-depth exchanges on co-production models, support mechanisms of both countries, as well as connection methods for filmmakers and producers.
Media & Communications Team – Vietnam Cinema
