Cooperation in the film industry is an important part of the Vietnam-US relationship, not only in film production but also in opening up opportunities for technology connection, human resource training and supporting policy development.
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| Delegates proposed many practical solutions at the workshop on cooperation in developing Vietnam - US cinema. (Photo: Thanh Ha) |
Recently, at Harvard University (Boston, USA), the Vietnam Film Promotion Association (VFDA) in collaboration with the Boston Global Forum (BGF) organized a workshop with the theme "Cooperation in developing Vietnam - US cinema in the context of artificial intelligence and the 4.0 Industrial Revolution".
This is part of a series of activities to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the establishment of Vietnam-US diplomatic relations, with the aim of strengthening connections between the two countries' film industries, promoting cooperation in film production, applying technology to cinema and developing high-quality human resources.
The event was attended by Ambassador, Head of the Permanent Mission of Vietnam to the United Nations Dang Hoang Giang, President of VFDA Ngo Phuong Lan; former Governor of Massachusetts Michael Dukakis, co-founder & co-chair of the Boston Global Forum; Ambassador, Deputy Head of the Permanent Mission of Vietnam to the United Nations Nguyen Hoang Nguyen; Director of Film of the Massachusetts State Government Meg Montagnino; professors from Harvard University; MIT Professor Nazli Choucri; Columbia University Professor Tony Bui, along with many international film experts, filmmakers and investors. Harvard University Professor Thomas Patterson moderated the program.
Connecting the Vietnamese - American film industry
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| Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang delivered the opening speech at the workshop on Vietnam-US cooperation in developing cinema. (Photo: Thanh Ha) |
At the workshop, delegates focused on discussing the values of Vietnamese films with typical humanistic features, the development of cinema in the process of international integration, building the film industry and new trends in applying AI to film production.
In his opening remarks, Head of the Permanent Mission of Vietnam to the United Nations - Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang said that cinema is not only a creative industry but also an important bridge to help enhance mutual understanding and promote cultural exchange between Vietnam and the US, especially in the context of the two countries celebrating 30 years of diplomatic relations in 2025.
The Ambassador acknowledged the strong development of Vietnamese cinema, which is increasingly recognized internationally, and affirmed that the application of technology, especially AI, needs to aim at preserving and spreading humanistic values.
According to VFDA President Ngo Phuong Lan, Vietnamese cinema is going through an important transition period. In the past 5 years, for the first time, Vietnamese films have achieved revenue of tens of millions of USD, demonstrating the strong development of the domestic market. In parallel, the new Cinema Law has created more favorable conditions for international film crews to come to Vietnam, opening up more opportunities for cooperation with Hollywood producers and foreign markets.
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| VFDA President Ngo Phuong Lan speaks at the event. (Photo: Thanh Ha) |
Dr. Ngo Phuong Lan affirmed that national identity is the strength that helps Vietnamese cinema create its own mark on the international stage. According to her, humanistic values and compassion are not only expressed in classic works such as Canh Dong Hoang or Bao Gio Cho Den Thang Muoi , but also continue to be exploited in contemporary films with new perspectives and expressions.
Vietnamese cinema cannot rely solely on its filming location advantage, but needs a complete film ecosystem to attract international cooperation. Technology, preferential policies, human resource training and distribution strategy are key factors to enhance the position of Vietnamese cinema in the context of globalization.
Combining tradition and technological innovation, such as applying artificial intelligence (AI) in film production, not only helps improve film quality but also increases competitiveness in the international market.
Looking to the future, Dr. Ngo Phuong Lan affirmed that VFDA is actively implementing the PAI Film Crew Attracting Index to provinces and cities, while making efforts to expand cooperation with film organizations, universities and film technology partners in the US to create more development opportunities for Vietnamese cinema.
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| Former Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis. |
Former Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis also emphasized the role of Vietnamese cinema in spreading human values and compassion, contributing to promoting connections between cultures.
Cooperation in the film industry is an important part of the Vietnam-US relationship, not only in film production but also in opening up opportunities for technology connection, human resource training and supporting policy development.
Need to build preferential policies
The workshop not only mentioned the wide-open opportunities, but also emphasized the major challenges that Vietnamese cinema is facing, especially the problem of accessing financial resources and advanced technology. Delegates proposed many practical solutions, including promoting cooperation with research centers and universities in the US to train high-quality human resources, and establishing production support funds specifically for projects with international cooperation elements.
Columbia University professor and director Tony Bui shared: “Cinema is not only an entertainment industry, but also a story about identity, culture and how the world perceives a country. When making films in Vietnam in the 90s, I encountered many challenges in terms of infrastructure and technology. But now, Vietnam has enough conditions to produce films that meet international standards. The challenge now is how to make Vietnamese cinema have a stronger global impact.”
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| Columbia University professor, director Tony Bui. |
However, to attract international film crews, good infrastructure is not enough, but competitive incentive policies are needed. Director of Film of the Massachusetts State Government Meg Montagnino commented that Vietnam can learn from successful models such as Massachusetts or South Africa, which have built attractive tax incentive policies and have Hollywood-standard production infrastructure.
She also stressed that simplifying production licensing procedures and establishing a clear support system would help make Vietnam a more attractive destination for international film producers.
Referring to the financial factor, International Film Investor & Producer Mars said that it is not just a matter of low production costs, Vietnam needs to build a post-production support system, financial incentives and talent attraction policies, as other countries are doing. This will help Vietnam become a more attractive destination for international filmmakers.
One of the factors that determines the success of the film industry is not only technology or policy, but also the quality of human resources. Ms. Angela Perry (Boston Casting) assessed that Vietnam has a great filming scene, but to compete with Hollywood or Toronto, the most important thing is to train a team of professional staff, capable of meeting the strict requirements of major film producers.
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| Ms. Angela Casting (far right), founder of Boston Casting. (Photo: Thanh Ha) |
Ambassador, Deputy Head of the Permanent Mission of Vietnam to the United Nations Nguyen Hoang Nguyen also emphasized the increasingly deep interaction between the Vietnamese and US film industries, promoted by the development of streaming platforms, making it easier for audiences of the two countries to access each other's film content.
Mr. Nguyen Hoang Nguyen highly appreciated the efforts of Professor and Director Tony Bui in bringing classic works of Vietnamese cinema to Criterion Channel, contributing to raising the recognition of Vietnamese culture in the international market. At the same time, he also noticed the increasing appearance of Vietnamese names in the end credits of American films, demonstrating the growing contribution of Vietnamese people to the global film industry.
In addition to promoting international cooperation, Vietnam is also promoting domestic film initiatives to create stronger connections with the global market. In particular, the Da Nang Asian Film Festival (DANAFF) is considered an important platform, not only honoring outstanding works in the region but also opening up opportunities for cooperation between Vietnamese and international filmmakers.
Through promotional activities in the US, DANAFF hopes to expand the influence of Vietnamese cinema in the global market, promoting cooperation in film production and distribution between Vietnam and developed cinema industries.
AIWS Cinema Park Initiative
At the workshop, one of the topics discussed was the AIWS Film Park initiative, a strategic project to apply AI technology to cinema, while connecting Vietnam with the global creative ecosystem.
AIWS Film Park is not only a film production center, but also serves as a film ecosystem integrating AI technology, connecting with leading film centers such as Boston, New York, Hollywood, Washington DC, San Francisco, Paris, Rome, Venice and London.
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| Dr. Ngo Phuong Lan said that AI really helps save time, costs and resources in film production. (Photo: Thanh Ha) |
According to Dr. Ngo Phuong Lan, AIWS Film Park is not only a breakthrough film production space but also a point of intersection between technology, education and international cooperation, contributing to making Vietnam a creative cinema center in the region.
She also affirmed that, despite many controversies, AI really plays an important role in film production by helping to save time, costs and resources. However, AI can only be an excellent assistant, supporting the creative process, but cannot replace humans in generating ideas, creating emotions and imagination - the core elements that make the art of cinema alive.
This initiative is also part of the "Friends of Viet Nam - US Film Collaboration" program, a film cooperation initiative between Vietnam and the US, aiming to support filmmakers and investors from both sides in developing projects, connecting resources and building a sustainable film ecosystem.
In addition, the AIWS Film Park project is oriented according to the standards of the AI World Society (AIWS), aiming to connect with global film centers and build a creative ecosystem combining AI technology and film production, which is also expected to contribute to improving the quality of film production in Vietnam, while creating favorable conditions for international film crews to come to Vietnam to produce and release films.
Not only focusing on infrastructure development, the project also focuses on cooperation with Harvard, MIT, UCLA and prestigious universities in the US to implement an AI-based film training program. This will be an important step to help Vietnam improve the quality of human resources, meeting the development needs of the film industry in the digital age.
Former Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis said the AIWS Film Park is a groundbreaking initiative that will help Vietnam emerge as a creative film hub, connecting with Boston, New York, Hollywood and global markets.
The delegates attending the conference all agreed that to realize this potential, there needs to be close coordination between businesses, academia and international organizations. The discussions and proposals at this event will be the premise for the next steps of cooperation, promoting the sustainable development of the Vietnamese film industry and enhancing the presence of Vietnamese cinema in the global market.
As AI is changing the way films are made globally, experts say Vietnam needs to leverage technology to improve its production capacity. Director Tony Bui commented: In the past, large-scale film production required huge resources, but with AI, even independent filmmakers can create high-quality cinematic works. Vietnam needs to take the lead in this trend and AIWS can become a center to promote the smart film production model.
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| Delegates give their opinions at the workshop. (Photo: Thanh Ha) |
The conference held at Harvard University marked an important step forward in the Vietnam-US film cooperation relationship, especially as the two countries celebrate 30 years of diplomatic relations. Strategic initiatives were announced, including the AIWS Film Park, an innovation center for applying AI to film production, connecting with Boston, New York, Hollywood and major film centers around the world.
One of the important highlights of the conference was the official launch of the initiative “Friends of the US – Viet Nam Film Collaboration” with the participation of leading experts from Harvard, MIT, Boston Global Forum, along with many international filmmakers and investors.
According to Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang, the initiative "Friends of Vietnam - US Cinema Development Cooperation" is an important step in connecting the two countries' film industries, creating a foundation for deeper cooperation in the future.
Co-Chairman and CEO of Boston Global Forum Nguyen Anh Tuan emphasized that this initiative is not only a bridge connecting the film industries of the two countries, but also creates a sustainable platform to promote production cooperation, apply advanced technology, especially artificial intelligence, and support young Vietnamese film talents to reach out to the world. We believe that, with the support of experts, filmmakers and film organizations from both sides, the initiative will bring about positive and lasting changes.
The results of the workshop and the AIWS Film Park initiative will continue to be introduced to global partners, opening up new cooperation prospects for the Vietnamese film industry in the era of technology and integration.
Source: https://baoquocte.vn/hop-tac-phat-trien-dien-anh-viet-nam-my-thoi-40-307348.html
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