This national cultural and artistic event is held in celebration of the 50th anniversary of Vietnam’s reunification and the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution and National Day. It also marks 55 years since the first Vietnam Film Festival in 1970.

The festival is an opportunity for Ho Chi Minh City to showcase its dynamic transformation and reaffirm its role as a center for economy, culture, education, and science-technology. This year’s edition holds special significance as the city was recently recognized as the first UNESCO Creative City of Film in Vietnam and Southeast Asia.

Under the slogan “Vietnamese cinema - Sustainable development and international integration in the new era,” the 24th Vietnam Film Festival aims to introduce new Vietnamese films to the public. It will create opportunities for interaction between filmmakers and audiences, provide insights into public preferences, and enhance the professionalism of the country’s film industry.

The festival also encourages knowledge-sharing among artists, film producers, cultural managers, screenwriters, distributors, and exhibitors, fostering growth in Vietnam’s cinematic sector.

The organizing committee has received 30 feature films, 120 documentaries, 21 scientific films, and 32 animated films. A selection committee was formed to review entries for the competition and panoramic screening categories.

Among the 16 feature films chosen for competition are box office hits with revenues exceeding 100 billion VND (around $4 million), including Red Rain, The Tunnel, Airborne Battle, The Four Avengers, and Detective Kien.

A pre-festival film week will run from November 15 to 20, with 15 selected films screened for free across major cities and provinces including Childhood Moon, Dao, Pho and Piano, The Scent of Burnt Grass, Hong Ha Lady Poet, The Crimson Dawn, Jasmine Flowers, The Returnee, Legend of Quan Tien, Dong Loc Junction, Hanoi 12 Days and Nights, The Prophet, I See Yellow Flowers on the Green Grass, Legendary Writers, Living with History, The Warbler, The Couple A Phu, August Stars, and The 17th Parallel – Days and Nights.

Notably, with support from the People’s Army Cinema and the General Political Department of the Vietnam People’s Army, Red Rain – Vietnam’s highest-grossing film in history – will be screened during the film week to spread patriotic spirit and cinematic appreciation among audiences in Hanoi, Bac Ninh, Hai Phong, Quang Ninh, Hue, Da Nang, Dak Lak, Can Tho, and Ho Chi Minh City.

At the press conference on the morning of November 5, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Ta Quang Dong shared that this year's Vietnam Film Festival has received the highest number of film submissions to date (202 films).

In addition to the main awards, the Minister will present three special certificates of merit to the Vietnamese film distributor with the most releases between two festival editions, a Vietnamese individual with significant contributions to the film industry, and a foreign individual who has played a key role in promoting Vietnamese cinema.

A new highlight of this year's festival is a program inviting renowned filmmakers and actors to share their experiences with students at film schools in Ho Chi Minh City.

The opening and closing ceremonies, including the awards presentation, will be held outdoors at the Independence Palace on November 21 and 25 and broadcast live on VTV9.

At the press conference in Hanoi, Thanh Thuy, Deputy Director of Ho Chi Minh City’s Department of Culture and Sports, stated: “As the nation’s film production center, we are committed to organizing a truly professional and vibrant film festival.”

The jury list and full lineup of the 16 feature films in competition remain confidential for now.

My Anh