New York (VNA) - A roundtable on Vietnam-US cooperation in cinema development amid the AI and digital revolution was held on March 12 at Harvard University in Massachusetts by the Permanent Mission of Vietnam to the United Nations (UN), the Vietnam Film Development Association (VFDA), and the Boston Global Forum (BGF).
This event, part of a series of diplomatic and cultural activities to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the establishment of Vietnam-US diplomatic relations (1995-2025), drew the participation of scholars from the Harvard University, Columbia University, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), filmmakers, businesses in the film industry, as well as experts in digital technology and artificial intelligence (AI) from both Vietnam and the US.
In his opening speech, Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang, Vietnamese Permanent Representative to the UN, affirmed that cinema plays a vital role as a cultural bridge, helping the two peoples become closer and understand each other over the 30 years of normalisation, development, and enhancement of bilateral relations.
He appreciated the contributions of American-Vietnamese directors as well as young Vietnamese filmmakers trained in the US who, upon returning to Vietnam, brought with them valuable knowledge and expertise from the world’s leading film industry, to create Vietnamese cinematic works with international significance.
Dr. Ngo Phuong Lan, Chairwoman of the VFDA, highlighted the core values of Vietnamese cinema, such as humanity, compassion, sacrifice, and selflessness, which are clearly reflected in classic works like “Canh dong hoang” (The Abandoned Field: Fire Free Zone) and “Bao gio cho den thang Muoi” (When the Tenth Month Comes).
Lan shared the strong development of Vietnamese cinema in recent years and introduced new policies and regulations that are increasingly favourable for international filmmakers to collaborate and work in the country.
In the digital age and with the rapid development of AI, Vietnamese cinema faces both opportunities and challenges, she stated, adding that while AI can assist and replace humans in many processes, it cannot replace the emotions and the depths of humanity that individuals bring to cinematic works.
Participants discussed opportunities and measures to strengthen cooperation between Vietnam and the US in the field of cinema, as well as the impact of AI on the film industry today and in the future.
On this occasion, both sides announced several initiatives to promote cooperation and connect the cinema industries of the two countries, including the establishment of the Vietnam-US film development friends group and a plan to create an AI World Society (AIWS) Film Park./.
Vietnam, US strengthen economic, trade partnership
Vietnam’s consistent policy is to build harmonious, sustainable, stable, and mutually-beneficial economic and trade ties with the US, he stated, adding that Vietnam has no intention to create any barriers that could harm the US’s workers or economic and national security.
