Vietnamese documentary films screened in France

Documentary films produced by young Vietnamese directors are being screened in a special programme entitled “L’aventure Varan Vietnam” (Adventure of Varan Vietnam) under the umbrella of the Cinéma du Réel 2023 (International documentary film festival) which is underway in Paris from March 24- April 2.
Vietnamese documentary films screened in France ảnh 1Directors and audience hold talks after the screening (Photo: VNA)

Paris (VNA) – Documentary films producedby young Vietnamese directors are being screened in a special programmeentitled “L’aventure Varan Vietnam” (Adventure of Varan Vietnam) under the umbrella of the Cinéma du Réel 2023 (Internationaldocumentary film festival) which is underway in Paris from March 24- April 2.

Director Ha Le Diem’s “Nhung dua tre trong suong”(Children of the Mist), Tran Phuong Thao’s“Uoc mo lam cong nhan” (Pomelo), “Chuyen di cuoi cung cua chi Phung” (The lastjourney of madame Phung) by Nguyen Thi Tham are three among 20 works introducedat the event.

The works were created in training programmes conducted by Varan VietnamProductions since 2004.

Speaking at a screening, Vietnamese Ambassador to France Dinh Toan Thang highlighted the significant meaning of the event inwelcoming the 50th anniversary of Vietnam-France diplomatic relations and the tenth anniversary of the two countries' strategic partnership. He also expressed his hope that intriguing experience through the movies will liven up the special bond between Vietnam and France.

The films reflect lives and emotions of individuals orcommunities in all walks of life in an open society. Through art works,young filmmakers want to express the desire to rise up of ordinaryVietnamese people.

Founded by Jean Rouch in 1978, Ateliers Varan is aprogramme dedicated to Direct Cinema and to training filmmakers across theworld. In 2004, a team of instructors led by André Van In organized the firstVaran workshop in Hanoi. Since then, nine workshops have been held in Hanoi, DaNang and Ho Chi Minh City.

 In 2012, ahandful of participants created their own production company, soon followed bytheir own training programme, Varan Vietnam, in 2016. Several films were bornout of this experience and enjoyed screenings in numerous festivals, includingHa Le Diem’s Children of the Mist, which took home the Clarens Prize forHumanist Documentary Filmmaking during the 2022 edition of Cinéma du Réel./.        
                    

VNA

See more

Artisans and students take part in cultural activities and exchanges in the Xoan singing performance space at Hung Lo ancient communal house in Phu Tho province (Photo: VNA)

Ancestral legends revived through contemporary performance

Beyond cultural value, well-organised festival programmes linked with tourism and media can contribute to the development of cultural industries and enhance Vietnam’s cultural soft power, positioning heritage-based events as distinctive national cultural brands in the international arena.

Khue Van Cac (Khue Van Pavilion) stands as a defining cultural symbol of Hanoi, closely associated with Vietnam’s long-standing tradition of valuing education and honouring knowledge. (Photo: VNA)

Greater efforts needed for heritage to shape Hanoi’s identity

As suggested by UNESCO experts, heritage should be approached as an integrated system encompassing space, people and everyday life. This perspective can inform urban planning, cultural tourism development and the creation of clear economic drivers.

Participants at the gathering (Photo: VNA)

Lao, Cambodian students welcome traditional New Year in Ho Chi Minh City

In his speech, Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Manh Cuong said the municipal Party organisation, authorities and people always value the close ties and solidarity among Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. He described the three nations’ longstanding ties, forged through shared hardships, as an invaluable spiritual asset and a bedrock for sustainable development.

Vietnamese kickboxers win 32 gold medals at the Kickboxing World Cup 2026. (Photo: Vietnam Kickboxing Federation)

Vietnam finish third at Kickboxing World Cup 2026

According to Vu Duc Thinh, President of the Vietnam Kickboxing Federation, the strong results reflected careful preparation by local training centres and the determination of Vietnamese fighters. The team’s participation, funded largely through socialised and local resources, also demonstrated growing support for the development of kickboxing in Vietnam.

Politburo member, Secretary of the Party Central Committee and Head of the Party Central Committee’s Commission for Information, Education and Mass Mobilisation Trinh Van Quyet speaks at the event (Photo: VNA)

National Radio Festival opens in Quang Ninh

The opening night was combined with an artistic programme titled “sounds of the new era,” drawing around 50,000 spectators. The programme was structured in three chapters: Origins of Sound, Heritage Sound, and Sound of the New Era.

Vietnamese puppetry faces pressure to adapt to modern lifestyles, particularly amid growing competition from diverse entertainment forms (Photo: VNA)

Vietnamese puppetry seeks renewal amid preservation challenges

People’s Artist Nguyen Hoang Tuan, Chairman of the Hanoi Theatre Association, noted that while northern Vietnam had 27 puppetry guilds in 1986, only 14 remain today. Many traditional plays and original scripts have been lost, hurting restoration and preservation efforts.

Visitors enjoy the "Stone History Preserves Memories" exhibition, featuring a traditional format combined with digital technology solutions (Photo: VNA)

Project on digital transformation in cultural sector approved

By 2030, the project targets the establishment of shared digital platforms across 100% of cultural sectors. All digitised cultural heritage will be standardised under the national data framework and shared in accordance with regulations, while 80% of public digital heritage assets are expected to receive digital identifiers to clarify ownership and management, encouraging organisations and individuals to do the same and support market development.