On the evening of November 21, on the premises of the Reunification Hall (Ho Chi Minh City), the Opening Ceremony of the 24th Vietnam Film Festival took place solemnly, combined with the Ceremony announcing Ho Chi Minh City officially becoming a member of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network in the field of Film. The event marks a significant milestone for the city's culture and arts sector in particular and Vietnamese cinema in general.
Attending the ceremony were Deputy Prime Minister Mai Van Chinh; Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Nguyen Van Duoc; Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism – Head of the Steering Committee of the 24th Vietnam Film Festival Ta Quang Dong; Vice Chairwoman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee – Head of the Organizing Committee of the 24th Film Festival Tran Thi Dieu Thuy; Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Culture and Sports Tran The Thuan, along with leaders of central and local ministries and branches.
Ho Chi Minh City – A Creative City in the Field of Film
Speaking at the ceremony, Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Nguyen Van Duoc affirmed that the UNESCO Creative City of Film title is the “beginning of new responsibilities,” requiring the city to continue striving for sustainable development based on culture and creativity.
Mr. Jonathan Baker, UNESCO Representative to Vietnam, declared Ho Chi Minh City officially inscribed into the UNESCO Creative Cities Network. He emphasized that the title is a testament to a visionary development strategy, placing culture and creativity as pillars of a modern, dynamic, and inclusive urban area.
Immediately following the announcement, the ceremony of conferring the Creative City of Film title was conducted by representatives of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and UNESCO.
Also within the framework of the program, Mr. Soulier Eric Gabriel Michel, Counselor for Cooperation and Cultural Activities at the French Embassy in Vietnam, presented the “Ho Chi Minh City – Film Production Destination Handbook” to the leadership of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Culture and Sports. This is a special gift aimed at supporting the promotion of the city's image to international friends.
The 24th Vietnam Film Festival: Connecting Tradition and Future
With the theme “Vietnamese Cinema – Sustainable Development and International Integration in the New Era,” this year's Film Festival gathers numerous activities such as seminars, artist exchanges, film screenings, exhibitions, and professional experience exchanges.
The event contributes to affirming Ho Chi Minh City's role in the Vietnamese cinematic ecosystem, while opening up vast international cooperation opportunities as the city has just been recognized by UNESCO as a Creative City in the field of film.