Vietnam’s film industry reached a historic milestone in 2025, generating an estimated 3.65 trillion VND ($143 million) in domestic box office revenue.
Yet despite the boom, filmmakers and industry experts say Vietnamese cinema still lacks several critical elements needed for sustainable long-term growth.
The discussion took place during the launch event for the third season of the Vietnamese 2026 short film competition, where organizers also hosted a panel discussion titled The role of young filmmakers in shaping Vietnamese cinema.
The forum brought together film experts, directors, investors and government representatives to examine the current landscape and future direction of Vietnam’s film industry.
Participants discussed opportunities and challenges facing young filmmakers while identifying strategic weaknesses in the country’s cinematic ecosystem.
A booming market still searching for talent
According to statistics from Box Office Vietnam, Vietnamese films generated approximately 3.65 trillion VND ($143 million) in domestic revenue in 2025, nearly double the 1.9 trillion VND ($74 million) recorded in 2024.
Dr. Ngo Phuong Lan, Chairwoman of the Vietnam Association for Promotion and Development of Cinema and former head of the Vietnam Cinema Department, described the current outlook for Vietnamese cinema as “hopeful.”
She said the industry already possesses many favorable conditions for development, including investment capital, policies and a growing market.
However, she believes the biggest weakness lies in the discovery and nurturing of young talent.
“For a film industry to succeed, many factors are necessary, such as financing, policy and market conditions,” she said. “But the most important factor is still people. What Vietnamese cinema needs most right now is the ability to discover and cultivate young talent.”
Dr. Ngo Phuong Lan described the current outlook for Vietnamese cinema as “hopeful.”
Director Nguyen Quang Dung echoed that concern, saying the industry’s biggest shortage remains human resources.
According to him, the lack extends beyond workforce numbers to include creativity, talent and healthy competition.
He stressed that competition plays a crucial role in creating a dynamic market capable of attracting more talent and driving industry growth.
Beyond directors and actors
Director and actress Hong Anh argued that Vietnamese cinema still lacks a sustainable and balanced development ecosystem.
She said a strong film industry cannot rely solely on talented directors or actors.
Instead, it also requires simultaneous development across multiple fields, including production design, sound engineering, cinematography, production training and audience building.
Director Ham Tran added that Vietnam’s film market urgently needs the voices of younger filmmakers.
According to him, films become more emotionally resonant when directors tell stories that are authentic and deeply personal.
Industry experts generally agreed that Vietnamese cinema is entering a transformative period marked by strong growth and untapped potential.
In 2025, Vietnamese films captured more than 60% of the domestic market share, while Hollywood films dropped below 20%.
The industry also saw greater thematic diversity, the rise of a new generation of filmmakers and increasing experimentation with technology and AI.
Still, experts warned that sustainable growth cannot depend solely on temporary trends or short-lived commercial success.
They emphasized the need for continued investment in film quality and long-term development of future filmmakers.
Director Nguyen Quang Dung said Vietnamese cinema is facing a shortage of human resources.
Actress Hong Anh and director Ham Tran shared concerns about the future development of Vietnamese cinema.Experts expressed optimism about the future development of Vietnam’s film market.
A search for the next generation
Organized by Thanh Nien Newspaper, the Vietnamese 2026 short film competition continues to position itself as a professional platform for emerging filmmakers, screenwriters and content creators.
The competition aims to provide young creators with opportunities to tell their own stories through cinema.
Speaking at the launch ceremony, journalist Nguyen Ngoc Toan, Editor-in-Chief of Thanh Nien Newspaper and head of the organizing committee, said organizers have worked to maintain the competition since 2024 in hopes of helping discover and support new filmmaking talent.
“We hope the competition will not only honor outstanding works but also help young filmmakers gain greater public recognition and open more career opportunities after the competition,” he said.
Dr. Ngo Phuong Lan will continue serving as chairwoman of the jury panel.
The jury also includes director Ham Tran, actress-director Hong Anh, director Nguyen Quang Dung and journalist Lam Hieu Dung, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Thanh Nien Newspaper.
Members of the jury panel for the Vietnamese 2026 short film competition.
The Vietnamese 2026 competition is open to filmmakers aged 15 and older, including both Vietnamese citizens and foreign nationals legally living and working in Vietnam.
Submitted works must not exceed 30 minutes in length and may explore any theme permitted under Vietnam’s Cinema Law, provided they relate to Vietnam and its people.
Contestants may submit films they directed or wrote that have not previously participated in other short film competitions or festivals.
Organizers also stated that films created entirely by artificial intelligence without real-world directing, acting or cinematography involvement will not be accepted.
Vietnamnet.vn
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