Hanoi (VNA) – Within the framework of the 2025 Busan International Film Festival (BIFF), held from September 17-26, Vietnamese cinema made a strong impression with a series of fresh and diverse projects introduced to international investors and film professionals.
Vietnam had two films selected for screening this year: “Quan Ky Nam” by Leon Le, featured in the A Window on Asian Cinema section highlighting outstanding Asian works, and “Khe Uoc Ban Dau” (The Bride Price) by Le Van Kiet, showcased in the Midnight Passion category dedicated to horror and thriller genres.
“Quan Ky Nam,” shot entirely on 35mm film and set in 1980s Saigon had previously premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival to positive feedback. Some film bloggers described it as a “daytime version” of Wong Kar Wai’s nighttime classic In the Mood for Love. Meanwhile, The Bride Price, a supernatural thriller set in northern Vietnam exploring feudal gender traditions, was praised for its visual finesse and meticulous production.
Vietnam’s young director Nguyen Pham Thanh Dat (born in 1998) also introduced his project Flying Cows, which previously won an award from the Motion Picture Association (MPA). The project was shortlisted among the top 30 contenders at BIFF’s Asian Project Market.
At the festival, the Vietnam Film Development and Promotion Association (VFDA) presented two additional projects: “Ho Linh Trang Sy: Bi An Mo Vua Dinh” (Guardian Heroes: The Mystery of King Dinh’s Tomb) and Saigon Oppa. The former is a historical fantasy featuring Johnny Tri Nguyen, Do Thi Hai Yen, and Meritorious Artist Tu Long, while Saigon Oppa is a Vietnam–Republic of Korea co-production. Cooperation with the Republic of Korea has become one of the most prominent trends in Vietnamese cinema, opening up a fresh cinematic voice while enhancing production capacity and cultural exchange.
VFDA representatives also held a working session with the Korean Film Council (KOFIC) and signed a Letter of Intent on International Cultural Exchange with the K-Culture Education Association for Young (KEY). The sides agreed to strengthen cooperation through joint productions, data-sharing on the Vietnamese–Korean film industries, expert exchanges, workshops, and youth training programmes under the DANAFF Talents and Project Incubator initiatives of the Da Nang Asian Film Festival (DANAFF).
During the seminar “Pulse of Vietnamese Cinema – Introducing Promising Projects” on September 22, the VFDA highlighted major domestic industry trends and the growing regional role of the Da Nang Asian Film Festival.
Park Kwang-su, Chairman of the Busan International Film Festival, said Vietnam possesses a wealth of talented filmmakers and has all the potential to develop a strong and independent film industry faster than anywhere else.
Dr. Ngo Phuong Lan, Chairwoman of the VFDA, noted that over the past decade, Vietnam has achieved significant progress in box-office performance, artistic quality, and the emergence of young creative talents. She also emphasised the impact of the Production Attraction Index (PAI) and the Da Nang Asian Film Festival (DANAFF) in enhancing Vietnam’s visibility and competitiveness across the region./.
