Francophonie Film Festival to Take Place in Vietnam from March 18

The Francophonie Film Festival is back to Vietnam for the 2023 edition to celebrate French language and francophone cultures.

Photo: Internet

The 13th Francophonie film festival, jointly organized by the Wallonia-Brussels General Delegation in Vietnam and International Francophone Organization (OIF), will take place in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City from March 18-24.

The festival was part of activities to celebrate International Francophonie Day (March 20) and the 50th founding anniversary of the diplomatic relations between Vietnam and France (April 12, 1973-2023).

As an activity to celebrate International Francophonie Day on March 20 every year, this year’s film festival has the theme “‘321 million people speak French, with billions of different cultures’”.

During the fortnight event, seven films will be on screen, including “The Last Dance”, “Under the Fig Trees”, “The Restless”, “Thach Thao” (Vietnam), “French Tech”, “14 days and 12 nights” and “Babysitter”.

In Hanoi, the film festival will take place at the Vietnam Film Institute, 523 Kim Ma street, Hanoi from March 18-24. In Ho Chi Minh City, films within the framework of the film festival are screened at DCine Ben Thanh, 6 Mac Dinh Chi street, District 1, from March 18 to 21. Film screenings are open to the public.

In Hanoi:

18/03/2023: Last Dance (84’, Switzerland/Belgium)

19/03/2023: Under the Fig Trees (92’, France/Tunisie/Switzerland/Germany/Qatar)

20/03/2023: The Restless (114’, Belgium/Luxembourg/France)

21/03/2023: Thach Thao (96’, Vietnam)

22/03/2023: French Tech (92’, France)

23/03/2023: 14 days and 12 nights (99’, Canada)

24/03/2023: Babysitter (87’, Canada)

In HCMC:

18/03/2023: Last Dance (84’, Switzerland/Belgium)

19/03/2023: Under the Fig Trees (92’, France/Tunisie/Switzerland/Germany/Qatar)

20/03/2023: The Restless (114’, Belgium/Luxembourg/France)

21/03/2023: Thach Thao (96’, Vietnam)

The Restless (French: Les Intranquilles) is a 2021 international co-production drama film directed by Joachim Lafosse, starring Leïla Bekhti and Damien Bonnard. It revolves around Damien and Leïla, a couple in love as they battle with his bipolar disorder.

Previously, on March 11, the 23rd Francophone Festival of the Mekong Delta Region opened in Can Tho city, aiming to encourage the movement of teaching and learning French, thus boosting Vietnam-France relations in all fields, according to VNA.

Addressing the event, Anne Laure Vincent, French Cooperation Attaché at the Consulate General of France in Ho Chi Minh City, expressed her impression at the bustling French studying and research activities in the region.

She pledged to step up exchange and connection activities between the two countries in all fields.

Nguyen Thuc Hien, Vice Chairman of the Can Tho People’s Committee, said that in recent years, Can Tho has promoted the teaching of French in local schools.

Hien said that programs and projects funded by the French Government and non-governmental organizations have practically contributed to the socioeconomic development in Can Tho.

Can Tho has also coordinated with the French Consulate General to organize many political and diplomatic activities between the two countries, including the 10th meeting on cooperation between Vietnamese and French localities, and the signing of a cooperation agreement and the establishment of twinned relations with Nice city and La Seyne-sur-Mer of France, said the leader.

Hien said he hoped French diplomatic representative agencies will continue to bring French investors to Can Tho to explore investment opportunities in areas of the city’s demand such as infrastructure development, transport, health care, and tourism.

The festival comprised various activities, including an exhibition on typical products of the two countries, an art contest for French-speaking students of Vietnam, and a conference and training session to improve the quality of French teaching and studying activities.

Francophonie refers to all the people and institutions that use French as a language of socialization, daily use, administration, education or choice. Each year, it is celebrated throughout the world during the month of March.