 |
| A scene from the short film Roommates by director Nguyen Le Hoang Viet (Photo: VOV) |
Director Nguyen Le Hoang Viet, born in 1991, who gained recognition through award-winning short films such as Ban cung phong (Roommates) and Hat cam va con meo vang khong tuoi (The Orange Seed and the Ageless Yellow Cat), believes that attending international festivals brings numerous opportunities and experiences for independent filmmakers. "Film festivals offer a chance for filmmakers to introduce their films to wider audiences and meet more experienced filmmakers," Mr. Viet shared.
Film festivals attract professionals from the film industry who seek suitable content for distribution. Festivals can connect filmmakers with appropriate distributors, helping them gain profit and reinvest in future projects.
Young director Ha Le Diem’s documentary, Nhung dua tre trong suong (Children of the Mist), won the "Best Director" award in the "International Competition" category for first-time directors at the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA) in 2021. IDFA, the largest documentary festival globally, draws documentary filmmakers from around the world. Children of the Mist gained international recognition, screening in multiple countries. Ms Diem shared: "IDFA supported me throughout the production and post-production stages. After three years, the film has been shown at over 200 film festivals and major cinemas in the US, France, Taiwan (China) and Singapore."
 |
| A scene from the film Children of the Mist by director Ha Le Diem (Photo: VOV) |
Antonio Termenini, Director of the Asian Film Festival in Rome, noted that over the past decade, many Vietnamese films have shown high quality and compelling stories. Vietnamese films are increasingly co-produced with other countries in the region. For example, Mua tren canh buom (Rain on a Butterfly), directed by Duong Dieu Linh in collaboration with a Singaporean producer, achieved significant success by winning an award at the Venice Film Festival. Vietnam has shown success with co-productions, and its cinema has become a "bright spot" with films highly regarded internationally. Antonio Termenini also highlighted the growth of international film festivals in Vietnam, remarking "The recent emergence of international film festivals, such as the Ho Chi Minh City International Film Festival and the Da Nang Asian Film Festival, provides a valuable arena for filmmakers."
According to film critic Le Hong Lam, festivals benefit both filmmakers and the public by offering a window into Vietnamese and world cinema. They allow the audience to engage with independent films and participate in conversations with directors and filmmakers. "International film festivals are crucial as they provide independent and art filmmakers with development opportunities, elevating their status. Additionally, festivals allow young filmmakers to seek funding for their film projects," Mr. Lam explained.
More than any other art form, cinema swiftly and effectively bridges Vietnamese culture to the world. Bringing films to festivals offers young directors a chance to introduce their work, interact, and learn from advanced film industries./.