Press Meeting and Introduction of the "Vietnam Film Week - The Journey of Light” in Hanoi & Paris

In Hanoi, a special international press meeting was held in a hybrid format, connecting Hanoi and Paris. This was also the official event announcing the upcoming Vietnam Film Week - The Journey of Light”, which will take place from December 5–12 at Le Grand Rex.

The meeting featured the attendance of: Ambassador Đinh Toàn Thắng – Ambassador of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to France, PhD. Ngô Phương Lan – Chairwoman of the Vietnam Film Development Association (VFDA), Prof. Nguyễn Đức Khương – Executive Director of EMLV Business School (France), President of AVSE Global, Ms. Lý Phương Dung - Vice Chairwoman of VFDA, Producer Trần Thị Bích Ngọc - Executive Committee Member of VFDA , Ms. Nguyễn Mỹ Linh – Executive Producer of Vietnamese Cinema Week in France along with representatives from major Vietnamese and French press and media organizations.

The theme “Vietnam Film Week - The Journey of Light” was chosen by PhD. Ngô Phương Lan - Chairwoman of VFDA. Speaking from Hanoi, PhD. Ngô Phương Lan shared that the idea for the title stemmed from the very spirit of the event: a journey of Vietnamese cinema from war to peace, from the Đổi Mới era to the modern period, where cinema has become a vital stream reflecting the country's remarkable rise. It is also a symbolic journey that brings Vietnamese cinema to Paris – the capital of light.

Ms. Ngô Phương Lan emphasized that the word “Lumière” — meaning “Light” in French — carries multiple layers of significance: it not only evokes the image of Paris, but also recalls the Lumière brothers, pioneers who gave birth to world cinema with their invention of the Cinématographe in 1895. “I believe that this film program will be worthy of the name we have entrusted to it,” PhD. Ngô Phương Lan shared.

Speaking about the significance of the event, Prof. Nguyễn Đức Khương, Executive Director of EMLV Business School (France) and President of AVSE Global, shared: “The Vietnam Film Week in Paris is not merely a cultural event; it is a bridge of emotions, knowledge, and national pride. We hope to introduce to international friends a dynamic, compassionate, and inspiring Vietnam — a place where the past and present intertwine, moving toward a prosperous and sustainable future.”

He further emphasized: “Cinema, with its power to transcend borders, is a gateway for the world to understand Vietnam. Beyond Paris, this marks the beginning of a journey to bring Vietnamese cinema to many other countries, expanding a global network of cultural and artistic collaboration.”

The “Vietnam Film Week – The Journey of Light” also stands as a testament to the unifying strength of the global Vietnamese intellectual and artistic community. The event was born from the volunteer spirit and collaboration of multiple generations of Vietnamese across diverse fields — from cinema and academia to media — all sharing a common aspiration to introduce Vietnamese culture to the world and present a portrait of a modern, integrated, and humanistic Vietnam.

During the online press meeting, numerous French journalists from well-known outlets such as Le Figaro, Le Monde, and other specialized magazines raised thoughtful questions regarding the evolution of contemporary Vietnamese cinema as well as the current development of Vietnam’s film industry.