Vietnamese Cinema’s remarkable journey at the 38th Tokyo International Film Festival

With activities such as the seminar "Vietnam on screen: A regional voice - A global reach", the gala Vietnam Night, and a booth showcasing Vietnamese cinema and filming locations, VFDA has affirmed its role as a bridge between Vietnamese cinema and the region, while opening up opportunities for production cooperation, distribution, and attracting international film crews to Vietnam.

Vietnam's voice reaches global heights

On the afternoon of October 30, within the framework of TIFF 2025, VFDA, in collaboration with the Vietnamese Embassy in Japan, organized the seminar "Vietnam on screen: A regional Voice – A global reach".

Mr. Pham Quang Hieu, Vietnamese Ambassador to Japan, and Dr. Ngo Phuong Lan, President of VFDA. (Photo: VFDA)

The seminar was attended by Mr. Pham Quang Hieu, Vietnamese Ambassador to Japan; Dr. Ngo Phuong Lan, President of VFDA and Director of the Da Nang Asian Film Festival (DANAFF); Ms. Seiko Noda, Member of the House of Representatives and President of the Japanese Parliamentary Alliance for Film Promotion; Mr. Tadashi Maeda, Chairman of JBIC; and leaders from various provinces: Ms. Nguyen Thi Anh Thi, Vice Chairman of Da Nang City People's Committee; Mr. Nguyen Hong Duong, Head of Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Committee of Quang Ninh Province; Ms. Giang Thi Hoa, Vice Chairman of Dien Bien Provincial People's Council; Ms. Tran Thi Hoang Mai, Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Hai Phong City; Ms. Ly Phuong Duong, Vice President of VFDA, along with film experts, producers, representatives of major Japanese film companies, and Vietnamese filmmakers such as director Bui Thac Chuyen, producer Luong Cong Hieu (CEO of Galaxy Entertainment and Education Company, Standing Member of VFDA), producer Tran Thi Bich Ngoc, Executive Member of VFDA, and international representatives like Ms. Kaori Ikeda, Executive Director of TIFFCOM (UniJapan), Ms. Megumi Kose from Fukuoka Film Commission...

Overview of the seminar "Vietnam on Screen: Regional Voice – Global Reach". (Photo: VFDA)

The two discussion sessions "Cinema without borders: Vietnam in the Asian and global context" and "Filming in Vietnam: Potential and reality" provided deep insights and highlighted cooperation as the key to development.

In her opening remarks, Dr. Ngo Phuong Lan, President of VFDA and Director of DANAFF, emphasized that the seminar serves as a forum to discuss ways to connect Vietnamese cinema with Asian cinema, particularly in East Asia and Southeast Asia. Thanks to its unique geographical position, at the intersection of two regions, and its diverse cultural reception, Vietnamese cinema increasingly asserts its role as a bridge, spreading and creating a broader influence within the Asian film community.

Dr. Ngo Phuong Lan, President of VFDA, speaks at the seminar, emphasizing it as a forum to discuss ways to connect Vietnamese cinema with Asian cinema. (Photo: VFDA)

According to the VFDA President, although Vietnamese cinema started later than many countries in the region, it is experiencing a strong resurgence and recovering steadily post-Covid-19. The box office revenue of Vietnamese films has consistently reached impressive milestones in recent years, making Vietnam the first, and currently the only, Asian film market to surpass pre-Covid-19 revenue levels. The market share of Vietnamese films reached 44% in 2024 compared to 25% for American films.

"VFDA's participation in the 38th TIFF is on a larger scale and with more diverse activities compared to 2019 and 2022. Through the series of cinema promotion activities at TIFF, VFDA aims to continue promoting Vietnamese cinema in key international markets and film festivals," emphasized Dr. Ngo Phuong Lan.

The seminar provided a comprehensive picture of the development of Vietnamese cinema. Speakers highlighted positive changes in the domestic film production environment and viewed cooperation as an essential key to reaching the world.

Producer Yulia Evina Bhara (Indonesia) participates in the discussion session at the seminar. (Photo: VFDA)

Producer Yulia Evina Bhara (Indonesia), who co-produced Vietnam's Don't Cry Butterfly, asserted: "The future of Asian cinema lies in cooperation. Not just for financial reasons or support funds, but for the creative spirit and the ability to spread films within the region." Meanwhile, Ms. Megumi Kose, Executive Director of the Fukuoka Film Commission, shared Fukuoka's experiences and opened up future cooperation directions between the Fukuoka Film Commission and VFDA to jointly develop.

Ms. Seiko Noda, President of the Japanese Parliamentary Alliance for Film Promotion, Member of the House of Representatives. (Photo: VFDA)

Speaking at the seminar, Ms. Seiko Noda, President of the Japanese Parliamentary Alliance for Film Promotion, Member of the House of Representatives, expressed her hope that film exchange activities between the two countries will contribute to strengthening friendship and enhancing understanding of each other's history and culture. At the same time, it opens up opportunities for cooperation in producing films with global reach.

Director Bui Thac Chuyen at the discussion session. (Photo: VFDA)

Director Bui Thac Chuyen, whose film Tunnel: Sun in the Dark (Địa đạo) participated in TIFF this year, believes that attending international film festivals is just the beginning. The further goal is to bring films to international audiences, which is a story of national brand development. He suggests that when Vietnam has more presence economically and culturally abroad, only then will Vietnamese films truly go international.

Producer Tran Thi Bich Ngoc shares at the event. (Photo: VFDA)

Producer Tran Thi Bich Ngoc noted: The number of films produced in Southeast Asia has increased significantly. This is the result of cooperation among countries in the region, with Japan and Europe. Recognizing this, the Project Incubator (Workshop & Project Market) - DANAFF Talents, within the framework of DANAFF, was established, becoming a place to support young Asian filmmakers in connecting and collaborating across countries, thereby promoting the regional film ecosystem.

Positive improvements in Vietnam's filmmaking environment

Also at the seminar, from a domestic perspective, speakers shared about three major changes in Vietnam's film production environment: Administrative procedures have been streamlined thanks to the "one-stop shop" mechanism in many localities; authorities actively support film crews, offering free or reduced costs at historical sites and attractions; digital infrastructure has developed strongly, with 5G coverage and a cultural-tourism data repository available for production purposes.

Ms. Ly Phuong Dung, Vice President of VFDA, former Deputy Director General of the Cinema Department, and producer Luong Cong Hieu, CEO of Galaxy Entertainment and Education Company. (Photo: VFDA)

Sharing from a practical perspective, producer Luong Cong Hieu stated that film production in Vietnam has become much more convenient over the past five years. Mr. Hieu emphasized "three factors contributing to this significant change": film permits are directly supported by the authorities; good support policies, with film crews of 100-200 people often receiving free access to tourist areas, historical sites, and conservation areas, along with detailed guidance on regulations to complete the film in the best way; finally, security support is provided by the authorities during filming, free of charge.

From a state management perspective, Ms. Ly Phuong Dung, Vice President of VFDA, former Deputy Director of the Cinema Department, shared that policies for film development are being implemented in practice, in line with global development trends. Cooperation in film production by Vietnamese film organizations with foreign entities no longer requires permits. Foreign organizations and individuals wishing to film in Vietnam can proactively register and submit applications directly through the convenient online public service portal.

Ms. Dung pointed out that Vietnam currently does not offer tax refunds for foreign film producers and lacks a national studio that meets international technical standards for filmmakers.

Mr. Nguyen Hong Duong, Head of Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Committee of Quang Ninh Province, shares the province's policies to attract film crews. (Photo: VFDA)

From a local perspective, Mr. Nguyen Hong Duong, Head of Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Committee of Quang Ninh Province, stated that the province is pioneering the "online one-stop shop" mechanism for film crews and is ready to appoint a single point of contact to support all procedures for film crews. Quang Ninh is committed to providing free or reduced costs at state-managed locations and introducing service infrastructure at the lowest cost.

Regarding digital infrastructure, the province has 5G network coverage, internet access, and is ready to share a digital data repository on culture, tourism, and images. Meanwhile, Ms. Nguyen Thi Anh Thi, Vice Chairman of Da Nang City People's Committee, affirmed the goal of building DANAFF into an "Asian film bridge", promoting the entire value chain of the film industry. Da Nang aims to cooperate internationally with cities like Fukuoka and Tokyo to exchange experts, co-organize film screenings, and learn organizational experiences. According to Ms. Thi, in the near future, Da Nang City will build a film center with a studio and has assigned the Department of Culture and Sports to develop a plan.

A Canadian film producer expresses the desire to soon have the opportunity to make films in Vietnam in the near future. (Photo: VFDA)

Notably, in the open discussion session, many international producers and experts expressed their desire to cooperate with Vietnam in the near future. A film producer from Canada shared the hope of soon having the opportunity to make films in Vietnam.

Meanwhile, Japanese anime filmmakers asked many questions about human resources, post-production infrastructure, and the potential for animated film production cooperation in Vietnam, showing clear interest in the technical and creative capabilities of young Vietnamese filmmakers.

Delegates take commemorative photos at the seminar. (Photo: VFDA)

Concluding the seminar, Ambassador Pham Quang Hieu emphasized: "Cinema is not just an art form but also a soft power of each nation. Linking film festival activities with cooperation forums like today contributes to promoting tourism, investment, and cultural exchange between the people of Vietnam and Japan".

Vietnam Night full of connections

On the same evening, Vietnam Night - a cultural exchange event celebrating Vietnamese cinema in Tokyo took place in a warm and solemn atmosphere. The event, organized by VFDA in collaboration with the Vietnamese Embassy in Japan, was part of VFDA's activities at the 38th TIFF.

Delegates attending Vietnam Night. (Photo: VFDA)

From Vietnam, the event was attended by Vietnamese Ambassador to Japan Pham Quang Hieu; Consul General of Vietnam in Osaka Ngo Trinh Ha; Deputy General Director of Vietnam Television Do Thanh Hai. International delegates included Mr. Hiroyasu Ando, Chairman of the Tokyo International Film Festival; Ms. Yuko Obuchi, President of the Japan-Vietnam Parliamentary Friendship Alliance; Mr. Tetsuya Bessho, President of the Tokyo Short Film Festival; Mr. Trevor Fernandes, Vice President of the Motion Picture Association (MPA); Mr. Stephen Jenner, Vice President of Communications of MPA in the Asia-Pacific region, along with many international diplomats.

From left to right: Chairman of the Tokyo International Film Festival; President of the Tokyo Short Film Festival and President of VFDA exchange at the event. (Photo: VFDA)

The event attracted over 350 international guests, senior leaders, representatives of cultural and cinematic agencies from Vietnam and Japan, film producers, directors, actors, entrepreneurs, investors...

Vietnam Night is an opportunity for Vietnamese and Japanese filmmakers to seek cooperation in film production.

In a friendly atmosphere, the program became a cultural exchange bridge between Vietnam and Japan, expanding the environment for contact and cooperation between producers, directors, and artists from both countries, aiming for co-production projects and attracting filming locations in Vietnam.

Speaking at the event, Dr. Ngo Phuong Lan, President of VFDA, emphasized that Vietnam Night is not only a night to honor cinema but also reflects the aspiration to reach international heights of Vietnamese cinema. VFDA has been striving to create a favorable environment for cinematic cooperation through initiatives like the PAI Index and DANAFF; at the same time, extending an invitation to international friends to attend DANAFF IV in Da Nang City, scheduled from June 28 to July 4, 2026.

Dr. Ngo Phuong Lan speaks. (Photo: VFDA)

The VFDA President expressed deep gratitude to friends, partners, and diplomatic representatives who have always accompanied VFDA in promoting Vietnamese cinema to the world. Through many challenging stages, from the early days of establishment to the journey of building and developing, VFDA has made relentless efforts and achieved many commendable results from the domestic and international filmmaking community.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Japan Pham Quang Hieu speaks at Vietnam Night. (Photo: VFDA)

Vietnamese Ambassador to Japan Pham Quang Hieu stated that Vietnam Night has become a valuable forum for filmmakers and those working in the film industry of both countries to share experiences, exchange ideas, and promote cooperation in the field of cinema, reflecting VFDA's vision and efforts in promoting Vietnamese cinema to the world.

The Ambassador hopes to continue receiving attention, support, and cooperation from agencies, organizations, businesses, and Japanese friends to jointly promote cooperation in the field of cinema, contributing to the overall development of the creative industries of both countries.

Ms. Obuchi Yuko, President of the Japan-Vietnam Parliamentary Friendship Alliance, speaks at the program. (Photo: VFDA)

Ms. Obuchi Yuko, President of the Japan-Vietnam Parliamentary Friendship Alliance, congratulated Vietnam Night and emphasized that while the development of political and economic relations is important, cultural exchange between the people of the two countries through cinema is also crucial, helping the two nations understand and appreciate each other more. She hopes the event is an important opportunity to promote co-production between Vietnam and Japan and attract international film crews to shoot in Vietnam.

Director Bui Thac Chuyen, actress Diem Hang Lamoon (from the film Tunnel: Sun in the Dark), and the team from the film project 1982 by director Nguyen Hoang Diep were also present at Vietnam Night. Tunnel: Sun in the Dark was selected for the "World focus" category – one of the important categories of TIFF, providing an opportunity for the film to reach Japanese audiences and international delegates. The film project 1982 was selected to participate in the Tokyo Gap-Financing Market (TGFM) at TIFFCOM 2025.

Director Nguyen Hoang Diep shared: "Witnessing the spectacular development of VFDA in Tokyo this year, I understand that the persistent efforts of those in the profession have been rewarded. This is even more meaningful when I hear international friends talk about the strong explosion of Vietnamese cinema".

Performance by singer-actress Hoang Yen Chibi at Vietnam Night. (Photo: VFDA)

At the event, the audience enjoyed artistic performances rich in Vietnamese-Japanese cultural colors, such as the demonstration of the characteristic white face makeup process in the Japanese film National treasure (Kokuhō) and a performance by singer-actress Hoang Yen Chibi with two songs Falling kiss and See you. These moments of cultural fusion created emotional highlights, clearly reflecting the spirit of cultural connection between the two film industries of Vietnam and Japan.

Japanese media agencies report on VFDA's activities at TIFFCOM 2025. (Photo: VFDA)

Japanese television TBS, Yahoo News... and many Japanese media outlets attended Vietnam Night and reported on the event. Japanese media positively evaluated Vietnamese cinema, with TBS Japan recognizing: "In recent years, the film industry in Vietnam has been developing strongly, exemplified by the organization of the Da Nang Asian Film Festival - DANAFF".

Vietnam's booth shines in Japan

From October 29-31, at the Ikebukuro Exhibition Center, VFDA, in collaboration with the Vietnamese Embassy in Japan and localities such as Da Nang, Quang Ninh, Son La, Dien Bien, and Hai Phong, organized an exhibition to promote Vietnamese cinema and filming locations.

TIFFCOM 2025 featured 322 exhibition booths, including dozens from prestigious film organizations such as the Korean Film Council (KOFIC, South Korea), Tokyo Film Commission (Japan), Warner Bros Pictures (USA), Thailand Film Office (Thailand)... During the exhibition days, the Vietnam booth attracted hundreds of international visitors, including many Japanese and international film industry professionals and producers seeking cooperation opportunities.

The Vietnamese delegation at the TIFFCOM Film and Television Market. (Photo: VFDA)

Dr. Ngo Phuong Lan shared: "This is the first time Vietnam has a standalone promotional space at an A-list film festival, marking a new step in making Vietnam a destination for film producers in Asia and globally. The active support from the Vietnamese Embassy in Japan strongly contributes to building the image of Vietnamese cinema being introduced in a professional, official manner, yet still rich in its unique identity".

Overview of the booths present at TIFFCOM. (Photo: VFDA)

The Vietnam booth also introduced the PAI film crew attraction index, along with unique filming location images from localities such as Son Tra peninsula, My Khe beach (Da Nang), Ha Long Bay, Yen Tu (Quang Ninh), Cat Ba island (Hai Phong), Moc Chau, Ta Xua (Son La), Muong Thanh, Pa Khoang (Dien Bien). Not only attracting industry professionals, the booth also became a proud meeting point for the Vietnamese community in Japan.

Mr. Bui Hong Nghi, a Vietnamese expatriate in Tokyo, shared: "I am very proud to see Vietnam shining brightly at a major international film event, with beautiful and modern images. Cinema is a great way to introduce our country to the world".

Dr. Ngo Phuong Lan introduces international guests to the Da Nang Asian Film Festival (DANAFF) and filming locations in Vietnam. (Photo: VFDA)

VFDA's series of activities at the 2025 Tokyo International Film Festival, from thematic seminars, Vietnam Night, to promotional booths, created a comprehensive promotional journey for Vietnamese cinema. The three activities, each with its own distinct flavor, share a common spirit: Cinema is a cultural bridge, a soft power bringing Vietnam's image closer to the world.

The journey of great national unity: Imprints of overseas Vietnamese in the new era WVR - Over 80 years of development, Vietnamese diplomacy has always adhered to the teachings of President Ho Chi Minh, an exceptional diplomat and the ...

Keeping the Vietnamese language alive abroad: the journey of connection by over 500 teachers After nearly two months of online learning, more than 500 teachers from 30 countries and territories concluded the “Teaching Methods for Vietnamese Children Abroad” training ...

The journey of building a strong brand for Vietnamese music through Duc Phuc's success WVR - The journey of building a strong brand for Vietnamese music through Duc Phuc's success at the international stage of Intervision 2025.

General Secretary To Lam: Nearly a century of continuous growth and dedication marks a brilliant journey for Vietnamese women WVR - On the afternoon of October 2, General Secretary To Lam attended and delivered a speech at the 95th Anniversary of the Vietnam Women’s ...

International Food Festival 2025: A journey of flavors connecting diplomacy and culture WVR - November 2025 marks the 13th International Food Festival – an annual event organized by the Service Department for Diplomatic Corps under the Ministry ...