A seminar highlighting the relationship between the Vietnamese and French cinema was held on Wednesday as part of the 2^nd Da Nang Asian Film Festival (DANAFF II).

The seminar in progress. Photo: Internet

In his remarks at the event, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Ta Quang Dong said that France boasted a large and long-standing film industry, spreading artistic inspiration to cinemas around the world, including Viet Nam.

He also emphasised the importance of the seminar in serving as a bridge to promote the development of Vietnamese and French cinema, and helping Vietnamese cinema gain more experiential lessons.

According to Vice Chairman of the Da Nang People's Committee Tran Chi Cuong, French and Vietnamese cinema have a close and meaningful relationship. Many French films were made in Viet Nam very early. Many Vietnamese directors (or French directors of Vietnamese origin) have been honoured at major film festivals in France in particular and Europe in general.

“The city is committed to having appropriate mechanisms and policies to attract more investment from domestic and foreign businesses and investors in the field of cinema, thereby reinforcing the development of Da Nang cinema in the future", Vice Chairman Cuong affirmed.

The seminar consisted of two sessions, in which in the first session, experts shared many experiences, perspectives, and practical lessons from France in producing art films in the context of globalisation, and how to integrate into the world through films produced by young Vietnamese directors.

Meanwhile, the session 2 was the cinema round table "France-Viet Nam cinema exchange and cooperation" with a focus on discussions about interdisciplinary and intercultural issues; the influence of French documentary cinema on its Vietnamese peer; and challenges and opportunities in acting.

DANAFF II, opened in the central city of Da Nang on July 2, is treating festival-goers to a series of screening, conferences, and award activities.

The highlight of DANAFF II, themed "Bridging Asia", is a competition in the two categories of Asian and Vietnamese Film Awards. Notably, for the first time, the festival presented the cinema achievement award to an outstanding filmmaker.

Reporting by X.DUNG - Translating by M.DUNG