Brian Jeffrey
Dr. Ngo Phuong Lan, President of the Vietnam Film Development Association (VFDA), has highlighted a vital evolution in Vietnamese cinema.
On March 12, the VFDA partnered with the Boston Global Forum (BGF) to host a roundtable at Harvard University, focusing on “Vietnam-U.S. Film Development Cooperation Amidst AI and the Fourth Industrial Revolution.”
The discussion centered around the fundamental values of Vietnamese cinema—humanitarianism, compassion, and altruism—while examining its integration into the global marketplace, the growth of a vigorous film industry, and the influence of AI in filmmaking.
According to Dr. Lan, Vietnamese cinema is entering a pivotal period. In the last five years, local films have achieved revenue in the tens of millions for the first time, marking a significant development in the domestic market. Recent changes to the Film Law have made it easier for international film teams to shoot in Vietnam, opening doors for collaborations with Hollywood and other international markets.
She asserted that maintaining Vietnam’s cultural identity is essential for its cinema to gain international recognition. Values of humanitarianism and compassion seen in classic films like The Abandoned Field: Free Fire Zone and When the Tenth Month Comes continue to be relevant, now featuring new interpretations and techniques in modern films.
Simply relying on picturesque locations is not adequate. A comprehensive film ecosystem is necessary to draw international partnerships. Essential improvements in technology, incentive policies, talent growth, and distribution strategies will help enhance Vietnam’s global film standings. Merging traditional narratives with cutting-edge technologies, like AI, can elevate production quality and boost competitiveness.
Looking to the future, Dr. Lan confirmed that the VFDA is rolling out the PAI Film Attraction Index in different regions and is broadening partnerships with global film entities, educational institutions, and technology-focused film partners in the U.S. to foster more opportunities for Vietnam’s film sector.
Professor Tony Bui from Columbia University stated that Vietnam possesses all the prerequisites for creating films recognized globally. The pressing hurdle, however, lies in ensuring a more significant global presence for Vietnamese cinema and attracting additional international talent. He emphasized the need for more competitive incentive policies beyond mere infrastructure improvements.
Meg Montagnino, Director of the Massachusetts Film Office, recommended that Vietnam study successful examples from regions such as Massachusetts and South Africa, which have designed appealing tax incentives and production conditions meeting Hollywood standards. She underscored the importance of simplifying the film permitting processes and developing a clear support framework to attract international filmmakers to Vietnam.
A central subject of the roundtable was the AIWS Film Park initiative, a strategic plan to integrate AI into film production, linking Vietnam with the larger global creative landscape.
The AIWS Film Park is envisioned not just as a hub for film production but as a holistic AI-driven film ecosystem that connects with key centers such as Boston, New York, Hollywood, Washington D.C., San Francisco, Paris, Rome, Venice, and London.
Dr. Lan described the AIWS Film Park as a meeting point for technology, education, and international collaboration, aiming to position Vietnam as an innovative film hub in the region. While AI remains debated, she pointed out its significance in the filmmaking process, contributing to saving time, costs, and resources.
This initiative is also part of the “Friends of Vietnam – U.S. Film Collaboration,” which aims to support filmmakers and investors from both nations in developmental projects, sharing resources, and building a sustainable film ecosystem.
The AIWS Film Park project is projected to enhance the quality of film production in Vietnam while creating conducive conditions for international film crews to film and distribute their works domestically.
