Paris, December 7, 2025 — At the Vietnam Cultural Center in France, the Vietnamese Filmmakers’ Meet & Exchange took place in a warm, vibrant, and emotional atmosphere, attracting a large number of French audiences, the Vietnamese community in Europe, and international guests. The event is part of the “Vietnam Film Week – The Journey of Light,” , which is co-organized by the Vietnam Film Development Promotion Association (VFDA) and AVSE Global, under the auspices of the Embassy of Vietnam in France.
The event brought together many distinguished filmmakers from Vietnam as well as Vietnamese artists in Europe, including actress Linh Đan Phạm from the film "Indochine" - César-winner; the filmmakers of "Hijacked" with cast members Kaity Nguyễn, Bảo Định, and Hiếu Nguyễn; Meritorious Artist Nguyễn Hữu Mười, actor from the film "When the Tenth Month Comes"; actress Lê Tú Oanh from "Dont Cry Butterfly"; director Đặng Thái Huyền of "Red Rain"; young director Đàm Quang Trung with "The Elephants on the Roadside"; young documentary filmmaker Hà Lệ Diễm, director of "Children of the Mist"; screenwriter Nghiêm Quỳnh Trang of "Cu Li Never Cries"; producer Trần Thị Bích Ngọc; along with numerous other directors, actors, and producers whose films are featured in the program.
The artists and filmmaking team took commemorative photos with the Vietnamese community in Paris.
The event offered a meaningful opportunity for international audiences and overseas Vietnamese to gain deeper insight into contemporary Vietnamese cinema—its artistic journeys, untold behind-the-scenes stories, the challenges inherent in filmmaking, and the shared ambition to bring Vietnamese cultural narratives to the global stage. .
Vietnamese Ambassador to France, H.E. Đinh Toàn Thắng, remarked:
“On behalf of the Vietnamese missions in France, we warmly welcome these meaningful efforts and hope our community will continue contributing to our homeland, especially in arts and cinema. We believe this gathering provides an opportunity to better understand the evolution of Vietnamese cinema, while giving our community a platform to express their aspirations and ideas.”
HE Mr. Đinh Toàn Thắng - Ambassador of Vietnam to France, delivered the opening remarks, emphasizing the vital role of the community and artists in promoting Vietnamese cinema across Europe.
Dr. Ngô Phương Lan, President of VFDA, emotionally recalled the moment actress Phạm Linh Đan returned to Vietnam to film Indochine—a milestone that coincided with the beginning of Linh Đan's own path in cinema. Dr. Ngô Phương Lan underscored the significance of French productions filmed in Vietnam in the early 1990s, which laid vital foundations for enhancing the visibility of Vietnamese cinema among French and European audiences:
“Vietnamese filmmakers have brought their works to Paris—they have opened a door. This path must be followed consistently and continuously, and above all, it must carry an authentic ‘Vietnamese voice’—a voice with resonance, with stories capable of connecting with international audiences.”
Dr. Ngô Phương Lan, Chairwoman of the Vietnam Film Development Association, spoke about the journey of fostering Vietnam–France cinematic collaboration and the significance of the event.
Artists spread the power of Vietnamese story
Actress Kaity Nguyễn, moved by the warm welcome from the Vietnamese community in France, shared:
“I can deeply feel the love everyone has for Vietnamese cinema. I hope Vietnam Film Week presents memorable films and becomes a heartfelt reminder of home for Vietnamese audiences living in France.”
The filmmakers and actors, actress of "Hijacked"in an Q&A with the community.
Actor Hiếu Nguyễn, visiting France for the first time, expressed:
“I truly hope to return—for the beauty of France, the friendship between our two countries, and because I want to continue sharing Vietnamese culture here. I also hope to learn from the strengths of French cinema and apply those experiences in Vietnam.”
Actor Hiếu Nguyễn, visiting France for the first time, expressed his desire to return in the future to continue engaging with audiences and learning from French, international cinema.
Speaking about Red Rain, director Đặng Thái Huyền noted:
“This is one of the most ambitious productions in People's Army Cinema in the past twenty years. What makes it particularly meaningful is that the film was created by a team with a remarkable number of women.”
Director Đặng Thái Huyền and her filmmaking team introduced Red Rain, a large-scale production that stands among the most ambitious works in People's Army Cinema over the past 20 years
Mr. Trần Nam Chung, Director of People's Security Cinema, shared:
“Following the initial success of "Hijacked", the expectations for upcoming works are immense. We hope to continue receiving support, companionship, and sincere feedback from audiences and industry professionals so we may keep improving on the journey ahead.”
International audiences impressed by the evolution and the depth of Vietnamese cinema
The event sparked wide-ranging discussions among overseas Vietnamese in France, focusing on topics such as: the artistic renewal of Vietnamese cinematic language, production techniques and visual effects, the pathways for Vietnamese independent films to reach global markets, and the ways artists preserve cultural identity in contemporary creativity.
An overview of the event — a testament to the ongoing efforts to connect and promote Vietnamese cinema to European audiences.
Ms. Cẩm Linh, a resident of Paris, shared:
“Gatherings like this help us understand the behind-the-scenes world—stories that the media rarely covers. The artists spoke openly and sincerely, and that is truly precious. Opportunities like this are rare, so I feel honored and grateful.”
More than a cultural exchange, the event highlighted the growing connection between artists, audiences, and institutions committed to advancing Vietnamese cinema. Its success contributed to strengthening the impact of “Vietnam Film Week – The Journey of Light" in Paris, France, reaffirming the dedication of organizers and artists to expanding creative opportunities and bringing the image of Vietnam closer to international audiences.
