Vietnamese cinema celebrates five decades of storytelling in a landmark showcase at the Le Grand Rex and Pathé Palace theaters.
Scene from Red Rain – Vietnam’s highest-grossing film of all time, selected to close the film week in Paris.
The Vietnamese films Red Rain and Airborne Duel, two recent box office hits, will open and close the inaugural Vietnamese Film Week in Paris, scheduled to take place from December 5 to 12, 2025.
Seventeen selected films will be screened during the week-long event, showcasing a panoramic view of Vietnam’s cinema and its people. The selection includes feature films, documentaries, and shorts produced in Vietnam over the past fifty years.
The event is co-organized by the Vietnam Film Development Association (VFDA) and AVSE Global, under the patronage of the Vietnamese Embassy in France. It marks the opening program of the cultural initiative Vietnam – The Symphony of Love, launched by AVSE Global to promote Vietnamese culture globally.
This year's theme, Vietnamese Cinema – A Journey of Light, was chosen by Dr. Ngo Phuong Lan, former Head of the Cinema Department and current Chairwoman of VFDA. At a press briefing held simultaneously in Hanoi and Paris on November 14, Dr. Lan shared that although she doesn’t speak a word of French, the phrase “journey of light” captures the essence of Vietnam's cinematic evolution - from wartime to peace, from renovation to modernity - and its symbolic arrival in the City of Light.
Seventeen selected films offer a panoramic view of Vietnamese cinema over the past 50 years.
The word Lumière, meaning "light" in French, is also the name of the Lumière brothers, who are widely considered the founding fathers of cinema thanks to their invention of the Cinématographe in 1895. "I believe this film program will live up to its name," said Dr. Lan.
Among the selected films are both classics and contemporary works reflecting Vietnam’s journey through war, reunification, post-war years, and the early reform era of the 1980s and 1990s. The festival will mark the international premiere of Airborne Duel and Red Rain, both of which recently set Vietnamese box office records with gross earnings of approximately USD 28.5 million and USD 10 million respectively.
“These are the newest and most talked-about Vietnamese films,” Dr. Lan explained, “deeply human stories that reflect Vietnamese resilience and spirit.” The other films include: When the Tenth Month Comes, The Abandoned Field, The Tenants, Retired General, Don’t Be Afraid, Bi!, Children of the Mist, Cu Li Never Cries, Yellow Flowers on the Green Grass, Rain on Butterfly Wings, Glorious Ashes, Be Awake and Ready, Clouds but No Rain, Somewhere Near the Hospital, The Elephants by the Road, and Song Lang.
Each film has been selected for its depth, diversity, and creativity - from war-time narratives to daring modern perspectives. These stories portray a modern Vietnamese identity and mirror the country’s integration into global cultural discourse.
Photos from the Hanoi and Paris press conference held on November 14, with the participation of Ambassador Dinh Toan Thang, Dr. Nguyen Duc Khuong, and Dr. Ngo Phuong Lan.
The press conference, held both in Paris and Hanoi, was attended by Vietnamese Ambassador to France Dinh Toan Thang, AVSE Global Chairman Dr. Nguyen Duc Khuong, and Dr. Ngo Phuong Lan. The event attracted notable interest from French media, offering a unique opportunity to promote not only Vietnamese cinema, but also the country’s people, culture, and heritage.
Every screening will serve as a cultural voyage into Vietnam’s history and soul through cinematic language. The event honors the vibrancy and creativity of contemporary Vietnamese cinema and pays tribute to the generations of filmmakers who helped shape its identity.
The upcoming Vietnamese Film Week in Paris will also welcome renowned cultural figures, film experts, and Vietnamese directors, producers, actors, and artists. Beyond film screenings, the program includes a panoramic photography exhibition on Vietnamese cinema, public dialogues and Q&A sessions with emerging filmmakers, Vietnam–France film industry collaboration forums, and special screenings including opening and closing ceremonies at Le Grand Rex and Pathé Palace.
These activities aim to foster creative dialogue and new partnerships between Vietnamese and European cinema communities, offering a launchpad for future international projects.
Vietnamnet.vn
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