Vietnamese cinema in Doi Moi era: Opportunities and challenges

After 1986, Vietnamese cinema shifted from a subsidy-based model to a market-oriented mechanism under state management in film production, distribution and circulation. Over nearly four decades, the sector has undergone significant changes in creative thinking, production models, operational models and approaches to audiences.

From films with strong artistic and humanistic value to commercially successful productions, Vietnamese cinema has gradually established its own identity while expanding its presence at international film festivals and in global film markets. However, the transition has also brought major challenges as the sector adapts to market dynamics and rapid changes in the global audiovisual landscape.

At the seminar, filmmakers, directors and researchers focused on the development of the film market, the challenge of balancing art and commerce, and bottlenecks related to mechanisms and investment resources.

Director Le Duc Tien said effective governance and renewed policy thinking are essential for the sustainable development of the film sector.

According to Director and producer Bui Thac Chuyen  without suitable support mechanisms, Vietnamese cinema may struggle to keep pace with rising audience expectations. He noted that private filmmakers continue to face difficulties in securing funding, while regulatory bottlenecks have limited the combination of state and private capital for film production.

Although the Vietnam Film Fund was included in the 2006 Cinema Law and further expanded in the revised Cinema Law in 2022, it has yet to be implemented.

Malaysia has introduced effective support policies for its domestic film industry, including investment in film production infrastructure and incentive mechanisms to support industry growth, he added.

In his remarks, Ta Quang Dong, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said new resolutions on cultural development and related government decrees are helping attract investment into the film sector through tax incentives, support for promoting Vietnamese films overseas, tax reductions for foreign film projects shot in Vietnam, and policies encouraging the distribution of state-produced films.

According to Ta Quang Dong, the Cinema Law is being further reviewed and revised to align with broader legal changes, strengthen decentralisation, simplify administrative procedures and bolster public-private cooperation in film production, distribution and circulation.

By October 2026, relevant mechanisms in the Cinema Law and related decrees are expected to be revised and refined, thereby creating a foundation to attract more resources, boost film production and distribution, and promote Vietnamese films more effectively overseas from late 2026.

Vietnamese cinema expands international presence from Cannes to Paris

VOV.VN - The Vietnam Film Development Promotion Association (VFDA) has recently held a year-end review of its 2025 activities and announced plans for the fourth Da Nang Asian Film Festival (DANAFF IV), scheduled to take place from June 28 to July 4, 2026, in the central city of Da Nang.

Vietnamese cinema expands international ties at Busan Film Festival 2025

VOV.VN - Vietnamese cinema is making a strong presence at the 2025 Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) with two screenings, one project in the Asian Project Market, and a series of meetings, seminars, and cooperation agreements aimed at boosting regional collaboration.