At the press conference on the Hanoi International Film Festival. (Photo: Thuy Tien/VOV)

Vietnam’s representative in the feature-length category is “Once Upon A Time There Was A Love Story” by director Trinh Dinh Le Minh and produced in 2024, will open the festival.

Deputy Minister  of Culture, Sports and Tourism Ta Quang Dong speaks at the press conference on the Hanoi International Film Festival. (Photo: nhandanonline.vn)

Ta Quang Dong, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism and Head of the Festival Steering Committee, said: "This year saw an impressive number of film submissions to the Department of Cinema, from which 117 films were selected for the festival. This is a significantly larger selection compared to previous Hanoi International Film Festivals. This year’s festival also spotlights German cinema, one of the cornerstones of the global film industry and a major force in European cinema, known for its many outstanding contributions to world cinema."

Screenings are free and held at three venues: the National Cinema Center (87 Lang Ha), BHD Star Cineplex (Vincom Trade Center, 2 Pham Ngoc Thach), and CGV Mipec Tower (229 Tay Son).

Awards include Best Feature Film, Best Short Film, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, and others. Festival attendees will also have the chance to interact with well-known filmmakers during these screenings.

The festival also features an exhibition titled “Vietnam’s UNESCO-Recognized Heritage Sites - Experienced Through Cinematic Footage.”

Hua Vi Van, actor, producer, and jury member for the feature film category, said: "Over 50% of the films at the festival are Vietnamese projects. Vietnamese films  need to reach out to greater global audiences."

HANIFF celebrates outstanding Vietnamese cinema alongside international films, creating opportunities for Vietnam to expand its film industry and integrate further into the global cinema landscape.