Five Vietnamese films have been selected for the 31st Busan International Film Festival (BIFF), which opened in Busan, the Republic of Korea, on October 6.

As AI-generated short films surge online, prominent VN directors and actors argue that technology can transform filmmaking but still cannot replicate the emotional depth, creative judgment and lived experience that human artists bring to the screen.

Around 1,000 Vietnamese feature films, documentaries and animated works are set to reach wider audiences under a partnership that will make selected titles available free on Hanoi’s broadcasting channels.

Against the backdrop of globalisation and the explosion of digital technology, cinema is no longer merely an art form. It has become an important cultural industry making a direct contribution to economic growth and national soft power.

Vietnamese cinema returned to Berlin’s “Box Office Around the World” programme on August 9, with Director Thang Vu’s “Mesdames Thanh Sac” screened at the Humboldt Forum.

Vietnam’s booming film industry is transforming actors’ pay, with five of the country’s biggest movie stars now commanding around $76,500 per film.

The global impact of Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey extends far beyond the box office, offering Vietnam valuable lessons on how film can drive publishing, tourism, education and the wider creative economy.

"Love Garden" (Prem Ki Surdhara), a film inspired by Vietnam’s Quan Ho (love duet) folk singing, has officially debuted worldwide on WAVES, an Over-The-Top (OTT) platform by India's public broadcaster Prasar Bharati.

Inspired by one of the mysterious folk legends surrounding the tomb of Dinh Tien Hoang, the film follows a gripping journey to protect the final secret of Vietnam's first emperor.

The final leg of Viet Culture in Motion, an international short documentary film festival dedicated to Vietnamese culture, ended on July 5 at Cinema Aventure in central Brussels, Belgium.

Industry experts believe Vietnam's rapidly expanding film sector, backed by growing resources and talent, is poised to make a major leap toward producing blockbuster films on the scale of Hollywood.

Learning from international experience, adopting advanced technologies and developing a professional digital ecosystem will be essential to enhancing competitiveness and promoting Vietnam's cultural soft power.

This year's DANAFF Project Incubator is bringing together emerging filmmakers, industry veterans and international experts to help develop new film projects and strengthen regional collaboration.

Vietnamese cinema may welcome newcomers from all backgrounds, but lasting success still depends on talent, discipline and dedication.

The growing trend of casting beauty queens and social media influencers is reshaping Vietnamese cinema, bringing both fresh opportunities and significant risks.

South Korean actor Ji Chang Wook has confirmed his attendance at the fourth Da Nang Asian Film Festival, adding star power to one of Vietnam's biggest cinematic events.

DANAFF 2026 unveils an international jury featuring leading figures from Cannes, Berlinale, Sony Pictures and Asian cinema.

Vietnam’s film industry reached a historic milestone in 2025, generating an estimated 3.65 trillion VND ($143 million) in domestic box office revenue.

Ho Chi Minh City plans to develop several key projects to boost its cultural industries, including the construction of a large-scale film studio complex covering around 100–150 hectares.