On the evening of 30 October, the event “VietNam Night”, organized by the Vietnam Film Development Promotion Association (VFDA) in cooperation with the Embassy of Socialist Republic of Vietnam in Japan, within the framework of the 38th Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF 38), concluded Vietnam’s film-promotion activities with a strong and emotionally resonant mark.
Delegates attended VietNam Night
Representing Vietnam were H.E Ambassador Phạm Quang Hiệu, Mr. Ngô Trịnh Hà of Consul General in Osaka, and Mr. Đỗ Thanh Hải - Deputy General Director of Vietnam Television (VTV). International delegates present included Mr. Hiroyasu Ando - President of the Tokyo International Film Festival; Ms. Yuko Obuchi - Chairwoman of the Japan-Vietnam Parliamentary Friendship Alliance; and Mr. Tetsuya Bessho - President of the Short Shorts Film Festival.
The event attracted more than 350 international guests, including senior leaders, representatives of Vietnamese and Japanese cultural and film agencies, film producers, directors, actors, entrepreneurs, and investors.
Japanese broadcaster TBS and numerous Japanese press agencies covered VietNam Night, and reported positively on Vietnamese cinema. TBS observed: “In recent years, the Vietnamese film industry has developed strongly, exemplified by the organization of the Da Nang Asian Film Festival (DANAFF).”
In a warm atmosphere, VietNam Night became a cultural-exchange bridge between Vietnam and Japan, expanding contact and cooperation environments for producers, directors and artists of both countries, aiming at co-production projects and attracting shooting locations in Vietnam.
The Chairwoman of VFDA thanked friends, partners and diplomatic missions for always accompanying VFDA
At the event, PhD. Ngô Phương Lan, Chairwoman of VFDA, emphasised that VietNam Night is not only a night to honour cinema but also expresses the ambition of Vietnamese cinema to reach an international level. She noted that VFDA has been and is endeavouring to build a favourable environment for film-cooperation through initiatives such as the PAI Index and DANAFF, and invited international friends to Da Nang for DANAFF IV, scheduled 28 June - 4 July 2026.
PhD. Lan extended her sincere thanks to friends, partners and diplomatic agencies who have continuously accompanied VFDA in the journey of promoting Vietnamese cinema globally. From early founding stages to development phases, VFDA has made persistent efforts and achieved many noteworthy results from both domestic and international film communities.
From left to right: President of the Tokyo International Film Festival; President of the Tokyo Short Film Festival and Chairwoman of VFDA discussed at VietNam Night
Ambassador Phạm Quang Hiệu declared that VietNam Night has become a valuable forum enabling filmmakers and cinema-industry professionals from both countries to share experience, exchange ideas and promote cooperation in the film sector - reflecting the vision and efforts of VFDA in bringing Vietnamese cinema to the world.
Ms. Obuchi Yuko, Chairwoman of the Japan-Vietnam Parliamentary Friendship Alliance (blue shirt) with Dr. Ngo Phuong Lan
Ms. Yuko Obuchi, Chairwoman of the Japan-Vietnam Parliamentary Friendship Alliance, congratulated the event and emphasised that while political and economic relations are important, equally essential is cultural exchange between the peoples of the two countries via cinema in order to deepen mutual understanding and affection. She hopes the event will be an important opportunity to promote Vietnam-Japan film co-production as well as to attract international film crews to shoot in Vietnam.
Vietnamese Filmmakers’ International Ambition
Director Bùi Thạc Chuyên, actor Diễm Hằng Lamoon (from Địa Đạo) and the team of the film project 1982 by director Nguyễn Hoàng Điệp were present at VietNam Night. Tunnels has been selected in the “World Focus” category – one of the major sections of TIFF – offering the film exposure to Japanese audiences and international delegates. The 1982 project was selected to participate in the Tokyo Gap – Financing Market (TGFM) at TIFFCOM 2025.
Director Nguyễn Hoàng Điệp shared: “Witnessing the development of VFDA at this year’s VietNam Night, I understand that the persistent efforts of its leadership have been rightly rewarded. This is even more meaningful when at TIFFCOM, I repeatedly heard international friends mention the strong boom of the Vietnamese film market. This success compels us to recognise that cinema needs more concrete green lights from agencies and organisations to continue to fly high.”
Vietnam Night is a great oppotunity for Vietnamese and Japanese filmmakers to seeking cooperations
At the event, the audience also enjoyed a demonstration of the white-makeup process featured in the Japanese film Kokuhō, and a performance by singer-actor Hoàng Yến Chibi with the songs Nụ hôn đánh rơi and Hẹn gặp anh.
