Hanoi (VNA) - Beginning in 2024, Vietnam will host three international film festivals: the Hanoi International Film Festival (HANIFF), the Da Nang Asian Film Festival (DAN♌AFF), and the Ho Chi Minh International Film Festival (HIFF).

Each event is a great chance for Vietnam to promote not only film but also the economy. Establishing international film festivals is trending in many countries, Vietnam is no exception. That will contribute to promoting local values and transforming the power of culture and cinema into economic potential.  Vietnam hosted an international film festival for the first time in 2010 in Hanoi. After that, the Cinematography Law released in 2022 took a leap forward for promoting the potential of Vietnamese cinema. The law allows a socio-political professional organisation and a locality to organise its own festivals (as long as it does not coincide with an existing film festival). Not only Hanoi, Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City will also host an international film festival for the first time respectively in 2023 and 2024, aiming to become cinematic cities and join the UNESCO network of creative cities along with Hanoi. These three international film festivals in Vietnam HANIFF - DANAFF - HIFF will honor the best films in many genres: Long film (over 90 minutes), short film, documentaries, etc. or individual filmmakers, actors, cinematographers, and screenwriters.

Until now, HANIFF is the oldest international film festival in Vietnam. So far, this one is not yet well-known regionally or internationally.

“The Hanoi International Film Festival has not clearly distinguished itself as unique. The fi෴lms which are screened at the event are good films but have yet to breakthrough in the industry. In addition, the festival held once every two years is a drawback,” said Le Hong Chuong, Vice President of the Vietnam Cinema Association.

Chuong said that Hanoi can take advantage of its history to create a film festival specialising in cultural values and continue to change and develop from that basis.  Director Phan Dang Di commented that Da Nang has advantages in landscape, nature, climate and tourism while Ho Chi Minh City boasts infrastructure and human resources and market. Those are the criteria for film festival makers to rely on to develop.

According to Pham Minh Toan, a representative from Vietfest, a consultantcy for Ho Chi Minh City Film Festival, his business had taken a look at some international film fest൩ivals in Busan and recognised some necessary essential points. The Korean government gives cinema facilities, human resources and policies that have helped make a huge global impact.

Toan also said that each film festival will have different orientations and roles, depending on local conditions. However, no matter how many film festivals are on offer, what’s more important is building the brand, and influence of an international film festival not only in Vietnam but also in the region, and the world. Experts say that the three film festivals are not many to a country with a population of 100 million. If the country wants to take full advantage of film festivals, it should introduce policies to boost the development of the sector./.