Vietnamese cinema makes its first-ever appearance at the Tokyo International Film Festival Content Market (TIFFCOM)

The opening ceremony was attended by PhD. Ngo Phuong Lan - Chairwoman of VFDA, Ms. Nguyen Thi Anh Thi – Vice Chairwoman of Da Nang City People’s Committee, Mr. Nguyen Hong Duong - Head of the Quang Ninh Provincial Party Committee's Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Department, Ms. Giang Thi Hoa - Vice Chairwoman of the Dien Bien Provincial People’s Council, along with VFDA leaders and members, and was witnessed by H.E. Mr. Pham Quang Hieu - Ambassador Of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam to Japan.

This marks the first time Vietnam has established an independent national pavilion at an A-list international film festival, representing a significant step forward in positioning Vietnam as a destination for filmmakers across Asia and the world.

A LANDMARK FOR VIETNAMESE CINEMA IN TOKYO

TIFFCOM gathers dozens of international exhibitors such as the Korean Film Council (KOFIC), Tokyo Film Commission (Japan), Warner Bros. Pictures (USA), and Thailand Film Office. The Vietnam Pavilion, upon its opening, welcomed nearly 100 visitors, including Japanese and international film producers, industry professionals, and partners seeking collaboration opportunities.The pavilion with the largest-scale Vietnam film booth ever presented abroad, showcases a wide range of highlights, including: The upcoming Da Nang Asian Film Festival (DANAFF IV, 2026); the Production Attraction Index (PAI), initiated by VFDA in 2023 to evaluate Vietnam’s local filming potential; an introduction to Vietnam’s diverse filming locations across multiple provinces and cities.

“This is the first time Vietnam has had an official cinema pavilion at the Tokyo International Film Festival, now in its 38th edition,” said PhD. Ngo Phuong Lan, Chairwoman of VFDA. “Since our founding in 2019, VFDA has been dedicated to promoting Vietnam’s filmmaking environment to the world. The debut of this pavilion at TIFF 2025 reflects our long-term commitment to elevating the Vietnamese cinema brand through international cooperation. This year’s theme - ‘Vietnam on Screen: A Regional Voice, a Global Reach’ - not only highlights the development of Vietnam’s film industry but also reinforces our mission to expand global collaboration, especially through DANAFFIV 2026.”PhD. Lan also emphasized that the participation of local government leaders in international film promotion activities such as TIFF and TIFFCOM demonstrates a collective effort to showcase Vietnam’s natural beauty, culture, and filmmaking potential to the world.

She added: “Interest from Japanese and international filmmakers in Vietnam is growing rapidly. TIFF, as an A-list international film festival, becomes the perfect bridge for Vietnamese cinema to gain greater visibility, build lasting partnerships, and affirm its position regionally and globally. The strong support from the Embassy of Viet Nam in Japan has been instrumental in ensuring that Vietnam’s film industry is represented professionally and authentically while preserving its unique identity.”Ambassador Pham Quang Hieu congratulated VFDA and participating provinces, praising their efforts to project an image of Vietnam as a dynamic, creative, and promising partner, while affirming that the Embassy stands ready to assist in expanding Vietnam’s international film collaborations and investment outreach.

Since its establishment in 2019, the Vietnam Film Development Association (VFDA) has continuously strived to promote Vietnam’s filmmaking environment to the world. The launch of its independent pavilion at TIFF 2025 demonstrates VFDA’s long-term commitment to elevating the Vietnamese cinema brand through international cooperation.

CINEMA - A BRIDGE OF CULTURE, TOURISM, AND CREATIVE COOPERATION

The Vietnam Pavilion at TIFFCOM 2025 also features detailed information about the 4th Da Nang Asian Film Festival (DANAFF IV), scheduled for June 28 - July 4, 2026, in Da Nang City.

DANAFF IV will continue its core programs, including In-Competition sections, Cinema Focus, and Panorama of Asian Cinema, with a special spotlight on the DANAFF Talents program - a regional incubator nurturing young film professionals.Building on the success of DANAFF Talents 2025 (held during DANAFF III in July 2025), the Workshop & Project Market introduced two categories: Asian Art-house Film Projects and Genre Film Projects (for Vietnamese filmmakers). The initiative attracted leading international experts and representatives from renowned global film funds such as CNC (France) and MPA (USA) - laying a strong foundation for the upcoming DANAFF IV.At TIFFCOM 2025, DANAFF IV officially announced its call for submissions to the Project Market, open from October to December 2025, offering emerging filmmakers new opportunities for collaboration and development.

In parallel, the acting workshop - Talent Incubator Workshop, featuring instructors from Japan and Korea, continues to affirm its role as a launching pad for many promising young faces of Vietnamese cinema.The Vietnamese In-Competition will accept film submissions until April 30, 2026, while the Asian In-Competition will remain open until March 31, 2026.The pavilion also introduced the PAI (Production Attraction Index) - VFDA’s 2023 initiative to assess and promote the filming capacity of Vietnam’s provinces.Participating provinces - Da Nang, Quang Ninh, Son La, Dien Bien, and Hai Phong - presented their iconic landscapes and heritage sites, from Son Tra Peninsula and My Khe Beach (Da Nang), Ha Long Bay and Yen Tu (Quang Ninh), Cat Ba (Hai Phong), to Moc Chau, Ta Xua (Son La), and Muong Thanh Field and Pa Khoang Lake (Dien Bien).Representatives Ms. Tran Thi Hoang Mai (Hai Phong) and Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh Thuy (Quang Ninh) shared their hopes to showcase Vietnam’s natural beauty and cultural heritage through international film collaborations.

VIETNAM’S IMAGE SHINES THROUGH CINEMA

From the very first day, the Vietnam Pavilion attracted a large number of visitors, including members of the Vietnamese community in Japan.Mr. Bui Hong Nghi, a resident of Tokyo, shared: “I feel so proud to see Vietnam presented so beautifully at such a major international film event, with vibrant and modern images of our homeland. Cinema is a wonderful way to introduce Vietnam to the world.”Singer–actress Hoang Yen Chibi, known for her role in “Go-Go Sisters”, attended the opening ceremony in a traditional ao dai, saying: “The pavilion is professional, impressive, and visually striking. I truly admire VFDA’s role in promoting Vietnamese cinema and its destinations internationally. I feel proud and hope to contribute to spreading the image of my country to global audiences.”Hoang Yen Chibi will continue accompanying the Vietnamese delegation at the Vietnam Night event on October 30 in Tokyo.