PRESS MEETING: INTRODUCING THE “VIETNAM FILM WEEK – JOURNEY OF LIGHT” IN PARIS

Online Press Briefing. (Photo: Organizing Committee)

Paris – At an online press meeting held on the morning of November 14 (France time), the Embassy of Vietnam in France, in collaboration with the Vietnam Film Development Association (VFDA) and AVSE Global, officially introduced the Vietnam Film Week in Paris 2025 under the theme “Journey of Light” (French: "Vietnam Cinéma – Itinéraire de Lumière"). The event will take place from December 5 to 12, 2025 at Le Grand Rex, voted by Time Out as the most beautiful cinema in the world and considered one of Paris’s most historic cultural landmarks.

This special program marks the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. For the first time, 18 Vietnamese films of various genres — feature films, documentaries, short films — produced over the last 50 years since national reunification will be presented to the French public.

The Largest Vietnamese Film Event Ever Held in Europe

According to the organizers, the Vietnam Film Week in Paris 2025 will be the largest showcase of Vietnamese cinema ever organized in Europe. All selected films are outstanding works that have been honored at prestigious international film festivals such as Cannes, Berlin, Busan, Hawaii, and Nantes, and have also won numerous national awards.

Poster of the Vietnam Film Week – Journey of Light. (Photo: Organizing Committee)

The featured films include:

When the Tenth Month Comes, The Abandoned Field, The Apartment, The General Retires, Don't Be Afraid, Children of the Mist, Cu Li Never Cries, Yellow Flowers on the Green Grass, Don't Cry, Butterfly, Glorious Ashes, and Song Lang...

along with recent acclaimed works such as Red Rain and Hijacked.

The organizers emphasized that each screening will take audiences on a journey through Vietnam’s culture, history, and people, reflecting the evolution of Vietnamese cinema across eras — from classics to contemporary works, from auteur-driven films to modern storytelling infused with fresh perspectives.

A Diverse Program Aiming to Foster Vietnam–France Cultural Dialogue

In addition to film screenings, the Vietnam Film Week in Paris will feature a variety of special activities:

·      Panoramic photo exhibition on Vietnamese cinema

·      Talks and connect sessions for young filmmakers and film lovers

·      Vietnam-France Film Cooperation Seminar

·      Formal Opening and Closing Ceremonies at Le Grand Rex

The event is expected to serve as a bridge for collaboration between Vietnamese and European cinema, opening opportunities for co-production, cultural exchange, and market development.

Efforts to Bring Vietnamese Culture to the World

Speaking at the press meeting, representatives of the organizing committee shared that the program marks the first activity of the major cultural initiative “Vietnam – The Symphony of Love”, launched by AVSE Global. This initiative aims to promote a modern, globally integrated, yet culturally distinctive image of Vietnam.

The Vietnam Film Development Association (VFDA) and AVSE Global as the co-organizers, have brought together experts, artists, and filmmakers from various fields, all participating voluntarily, to create an international-scale event for Vietnamese cinema. The initiative also opens new prospects for creativity and film collaboration in the future.