Fantastique: The Swiss animated movie Ma vie de courgette (My Life as a Zucchini) directed by Claude Barras will be screened during French-language film week in Việt Nam. — Photo courtesy of the organisers

“French language, connecting for action” is the theme chosen to honour the French language this year.  A variety of activities, including art events, concerts, film screenings and a writing contest will be held nationwide for this occasion. An official ceremony will be jointly held by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the International Organisation of Francophonie (OIF) and the Group of Francophone Embassies, Delegations and Institutions in Việt Nam (GADIF) at the Centre of International Convention Center in Hanoi. At the ceremony, GADIF will present an Award of Honour and an Award of Youth to two francophones who have made significant contributions to the Francophone community.

The highlight of the celebrations will be the 11th Francophone Film Festival in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hue, and Vinh. The festival will showcase famous films of Belgium, France, Morocco, Switzerland, Canada, Wallonie-Bruxelles, and Vietnam.

A program called Cultural Colours featuring the unique cultures and cuisines of francophone countries will take place on the campus of the Faculty of French Language and Culture, University of Languages and International Studies, this Sunday.

Another highlight of the festival will be international conference called Cultural Diversity and National Unity: Sharing Experience Between Morocco and Vietnam on March 27 at the Institute For Africa and Middle East Studies.

In addition, the third journalistic writing contest for young francophones has been launched by Le Courrier du Việt Nam, the only French-language newspaper in Vietnam. With the theme Strength of Words, the contest is open to all Francophones from 18 to 35 years old and closes on September 15.

Adama Ouane is Director of the International Francophone Organization: "Member countries in Southeast Asia like Vietnam consider the Francophone Community an important forum for contributing to international issues like women’s rights, sustainable economic growth, job and training opportunities for teenagers and anti-terrorism. I appreciate Vietnam’s commitment to support the UN in peacekeeping missions.”