The Film industry is identified as a spearhead industry in the 10 key industries of the cultural industry (especially the period from 2025 - 2030, vision to 2045). The breakthrough revenue of Vietnamese cinema in 2025 is expected to create even stronger momentum for Vietnamese cinema in 2026. In your position as Director of the Cinema Department, how do you assess the responsibility, tasks and pressures of the Cinema Department in the coming time?
- I believe that the responsibilities, tasks and pressures placed on the Cinema Department in the coming period are very large, and at the same time it is also a turning point opportunity for the development of Vietnamese cinema.
The responsibility of the Department of Cinema is not only limited to the pure state management role, but must be viewed at the level of creating and leading the cinema ecosystem.
When cinema is identified as one of the 10 key industries of the cultural industry, especially in the period 2025 - 2030, with a vision to 2045, the Department of Cinema is responsible for transforming the Party and State's guidelines and strategies into specific and feasible policies, creating a transparent and stable legal environment for cinema to develop sustainably, harmonizing the elements of art, economy and national cultural identity.
Regarding tasks, in the coming time, the Department of Cinema must simultaneously focus on 3 major pillars:
First, it is necessary to improve institutions and policies, including reviewing, amending, and supplementing legal regulations, standards, technical standards, public-private partnership mechanisms... in the stages of film production, distribution and distribution, ensuring to keep up with the rapid development of the market and digital technology trends.
Besides, developing a synchronous and modern cinema ecosystem, closely linking the domestic market and international competitiveness; in which focusing on encouraging the production of high-quality films, expanding the distribution space and international presence of Vietnamese films, promoting international cooperation, attracting foreign film crews, thereby forming a complete value chain from human resources, technology, production, post-production to distribution, promotion and promotion to the world.
Finally, it is to ensure the role of cultural orientation, improve the quality of content, ideological value, and aesthetics of Vietnamese films, and at the same time continue to effectively implement the task of ordering films using the State budget, considering this an important pillar to preserve and spread the historical, cultural and human values of Vietnam.
According to the Director, what is the biggest pressure on Vietnam's film industry?
- Along with responsibility and duty is a very clear pressure, pressure coming from the expectations of society and the market after the positive signals about the revenue of Vietnamese cinema in 2025; pressure from the requirement to quickly shift from "management" to "development creation"; and pressure from the strong movement of technology, new business models, and cross-border platforms.
If we do not innovate thinking, management methods and policy approaches, it will be difficult for us to maintain growth momentum and it will be difficult to make cinema truly become a truly key industry.
However, I believe that pressure is also the driving force, accordingly, the Department of Cinema will have to act more drastically, more proactively, listen closer to reality, and coordinate more closely with ministries, branches, localities and the business community and artists.
Only when it plays its role well can the Cinema Department contribute to creating a solid foundation for Vietnamese cinema not only to break through in revenue in the short term, but also to develop sustainably, in depth and have a worthy position in the region and in the world in the coming years.
What is the strategy of the Department of Cinema to contribute to promoting Vietnam's film industry to become a leading economically efficient industry, Director?
- To contribute to making cinema a highly economically efficient cultural industry in the period from now to 2030, with a vision to 2045, the Department of Cinema has identified an action strategy towards market creation, enhancing internal capacity and expanding international development space, closely linking economic goals with cultural values and national identity.
The Department of Cinema will focus on completing the institutional framework in a stable, transparent and investment-friendly direction, considering this as a key foundation for cinema to develop as a true industry.
Policies will be reviewed and adjusted according to the actual operation of the market, encouraging the private sector to participate more deeply in the film value chain, and at the same time gradually forming public-private partnership mechanisms in key areas such as production, technical infrastructure, archiving and dissemination of films.
In addition, the Department of Cinema focuses on building and consolidating the domestic film market, considering it a "support" for sustainable growth. The focus is on improving the quality of Vietnamese films, expanding the space to reach audiences, promoting the diversification of distribution forms suitable to the digital context, and at the same time strengthening management and support tools so that Vietnamese films have a worthy position in the cinema system and on legitimate platforms.
The Department of Cinema also identifies international integration and cooperation as a long-term strategic direction. The Department will proactively promote bilateral and multilateral cooperation mechanisms, strengthen cinema promotion, support Vietnamese films to participate in film festivals, film markets and international markets, and improve the access environment for foreign film crews, linking filmmaking activities with promoting the national image, tourism and culture of Vietnam.
Regarding the human resources of the film industry, it is said to be very lacking and not of high quality. What is the Director's opinion on this matter?
- Among the goals being aimed at, the Department of Cinema especially values the development of human resources and creative capacity, through coordinating training and fostering a team of screenwriters, directors, producers, and technicians in a professional direction, updating new technologies, gradually forming a workforce capable of deeply participating in the regional and international film value chain.
Throughout the strategy implementation process, the Department of Cinema will maintain its role in orienting culture and values, ensuring cinema develops harmoniously between economic goals and cultural missions, so that by the year
In 2030 and beyond 2045, Vietnamese cinema will not only grow in revenue, but also affirm its position, identity and make practical contributions to the overall development of the country.
After the transformation in 2025, Vietnamese cinema is placed on many expectations. However, cinema is also facing many difficulties. From personnel to infrastructure, technical technology... According to the Director, where should we start?
- After the positive signs of 2025, the fact that Vietnamese cinema is placed with high expectations is completely grounded. However, the limitations in human resources, infrastructure and technology today are also key issues that need to be focused on removing.
To solve it substantively, we need to start from fundamental and long-term foundations, instead of relying on short-term solutions.
Training directors, screenwriters, producers, actors and technical teams needs to be seen as a long-term strategy, linking training with production practice and market needs.
The State plays a role in orienting and creating mechanisms, while training institutions, businesses and creative entities participate together, gradually forming a professional team capable of working in an industrial environment and international integration.
Investment in film studios, cinemas, post-production systems, techniques, and technologies cannot be spread out, it is necessary to invest in key areas, select key stages that can create a spillover effect for the entire industry. In parallel with state resources, there needs to be a mechanism to encourage the private sector to participate in investment, forming film production and service centers in a modern and professional direction.
The Department of Cinema also emphasizes the completion of mechanisms and policies to unlock social resources. When the legal environment is transparent, stable and favorable, businesses and investors will boldly participate more in weak areas such as technology, special effects, post-production, and distribution. This is an important condition for cinema to develop towards industry, instead of depending on individual efforts.
In addition, it is necessary to place the development of Vietnamese cinema in connection with other industries and fields such as tourism, technology, education and media. This connection not only helps share resources, but also expands development space, creating added value for Vietnamese cinema in the long term.
To meet expectations after 2025, Vietnamese cinema needs to start from building human foundations, infrastructure and mechanisms in a synchronous, persistent and clear roadmap manner.
What strategy is needed for the story of cooperation between state-owned and private film studios, capital socialization, and calling for investment from businesses for these combinations, Director?
- In the current context, cooperation between the State and private sectors in cinema is not just an option, but has become an inevitable requirement for cinema to develop towards industry and market expansion.
In terms of strategy, it is necessary to shift from the "State making films" mindset to the mindset of the State ordering, society participating together. The State focuses on determining goals, orientation content, quality criteria and effective supervision; while the stage of production organization, distribution, and promotion needs to be expanded to capable businesses and units to participate on the basis of transparent competition.
This approach both promotes social resources and helps films commissioned by the State better reach the public.
Next, it is also necessary to improve the mechanism and legal corridor for the public-private partnership model in cinema. In which, it is necessary to clarify the rights, responsibilities and interests of participating parties, especially the right to exploit, distribute, promote and share revenue for films using the State budget.
When the mechanism is not clear, businesses find it difficult to participate, and state-owned films continue to fall into the situation of "finished but not reaching the audience".
Regarding the long-standing issue of state-funded films lacking resources for distribution and promotion, a more substantive approach is needed. Distribution and communication cannot be considered a secondary stage, but must be considered right from the project construction stage and at the same time pave the way for the participation of professional distribution units, including the private sector.
It is necessary to create trust for businesses when participating in investing in cinema, especially projects with state elements. This trust comes from a stable legal environment, transparent processes, flexible cooperation methods and the ability to exploit works after completion. When businesses clearly see economic efficiency, brand and social value, they will proactively accompany the State.
According to Mr. Dang Tran Cuong - Director of the Cinema Department, currently, the draft Decree on distribution and dissemination of films serving political tasks is in the process of being submitted to the Government for promulgation. This is a positive signal, opening up a clearer legal framework, both encouraging creativity and strengthening socialization mechanisms, while creating favorable conditions for state budget films to reach audiences effectively and in depth. The new mechanism also focuses on promoting public-private partnerships in distribution, in order to take advantage of resources and experience from socialization partners, both helping works achieve the best quality and expanding the ability to reach audiences in many different localities.
