HANIFF VII, directed by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in collaboration with the People’s Committee of Hanoi, and led by the Cinematography Department, in coordination with the Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports and relevant agencies, is being organized. This cultural and artistic event honors high-quality cinematic works with strong artistic value, rich in humanistic themes, and featuring outstanding and unique creative marks from both international and Vietnamese cinema. The film festival is also a meaningful activity to celebrate major national holidays in 2024 and commemorate the 70th anniversary of Hanoi’s Liberation Day.
HANIFF VII aims to discover and honor new talents in cinema, introduce remarkable works from global film industries, and foster collaboration and exchange to promote mutual development. It also offers an opportunity to expand the Vietnamese film market and integrate it into the international film industry.
HANIFF VII features 117 films from 51 countries and territories, including the United States, France, Germany, Sweden, Russia, Denmark, Norway, China, Japan, and more. These films were selected by the Preliminary and Final Selection Committees from over 500 entries submitted to the festival’s programs.
There are 11 feature films in competition from countries including Switzerland, Russia, Belgium, Sweden, Germany, Estonia, South Korea, and Iran. Among these, the Vietnamese film “A Love Story from the Past”, adapted from the novel by Nguyen Nhat Anh and directed by Trinh Dinh Le Minh, produced in 2024 by Hoan Khue Film Production Company, is competing.
The festival also includes 19 short films in competition, with 11 foreign films and 8 Vietnamese films spanning genres such as documentaries, animations, and feature films. The festival presents 7 films in the German Film Focus program, 39 films in the World Panorama program, 33 films in the Contemporary Vietnamese Cinema program, including feature films, documentaries, and animations, as well as 9 films in the program celebrating the 70th anniversary of Hanoi’s Liberation (10/10/1954 – 10/10/2024).
The opening and closing ceremonies, including the awards presentation, are held at the Ho Guom Theatre, 40 Hàng Bài, Hoàn Kiếm, Hanoi. The concept for these events draws inspiration from traditional folk culture art, blended with modern architectural landmarks that are iconic to Hanoi.
The scene from *”Ngày xưa có một chuyện tình”* (A Love Story from the Past) – the Vietnamese film competing in the “Feature Film Competition” category at HANIFF VII.
The main activities of HANIFF VII include: Exhibition “Vietnam’s UNESCO-recognized Heritage Sites – Experience Through Cinematic Frames”, hosted by the Vietnam Film Institute, from November 7 to 11, 2024. The exhibition features approximately 200 images from films by both domestic and international filmmakers, showcasing Vietnam’s UNESCO-recognized heritage sites.
Two Seminars under the themes “Focus on German Cinema” and “Developing Film Production on Historical Topics and Literary Adaptations”.
Film Project Market organized by the Cinema Department in collaboration with Binh Hanh Dan Company. This serves as a platform for filmmakers, directors, and screenwriters from the Asia-Pacific region to present their film projects to investors and industry experts through workshops, seminars, and networking events. The “International Film Project Market” will select four outstanding projects from the Asia-Pacific region to receive awards, while the “Domestic Film Project Market” will recognize four notable Vietnamese projects.
Films participating in the festival will be screened at three cinema complexes: the National Cinema Center at 87 Lang Ha, Dong Da, Hanoi; BHD Star Cineplex; CGV Mipec Tower, 5th Floor Mipec Tower, 229 Tay Son, Dong Da, Hanoi. The opening film of HANIFF VII is “A Love Story from the Past,” which will be screened at 3:00 PM on November 7 at the National Cinema Center.
Additionally, the organizing committee will host outdoor film screenings and meet-and-greet sessions with film stars on three evenings at the Hoan Kiem Walking Street./.
V.H