The announcement ceremony took place at the Thong Nhat Hall premises, in a solemn atmosphere. The event not only marked a new step forward for Ho Chi Minh City, but also opened up opportunities for Vietnamese cinema to accelerate in the context of strong integration.
Attending the ceremony were Mr. Mai Van Chinh, member of the Party Central Committee, Deputy Prime Minister; Mr. Nguyen Van Duoc, member of the Party Central Committee, Deputy Secretary of the City Party Committee, Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee; Mr. Ta Quang Dong - Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Head of the Steering Committee of the Film Festival...
Speaking at the ceremony, Mr. Jonathan Senior - Chief Representative of UNESCO in Vietnam emphasized that this title is a recognition of Ho Chi Minh City's persistent efforts in placing creativity at the center of the sustainable development strategy.
The city has proactively connected cultural institutions, universities, creative communities and the private sector to form a vibrant, profound and future-oriented film ecosystem.
According to UNESCO, Ho Chi Minh City's biggest strength comes from the vitality of the younger generation - a force that is constantly experimenting, creating and expanding new forms of expression. Creative spaces, independent filmmaking models, open art floors... are considered "catalysts" that help the city's cinema break through, while creating an identity in line with the spirit of the Creative Cities Network.
At the opening night of the 24th Vietnam Film Festival, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Ta Quang Dong commented that Ho Chi Minh City joining the UNESCO Creative Cities Network and being honored as "Ho Chi Minh City - Global Creative City for Cinema" has special significance, demonstrating the maturity of Vietnamese cinema in the process of international integration.
This title affirms the great potential of Ho Chi Minh City in becoming a regional film center, while creating more opportunities to attract international cooperation projects, expand the film production environment and promote the cultural industry.
According to the Deputy Minister, to maintain this position, the city will need to continue to improve policies to support creators, develop high-quality human resources, promote the application of technology and expand connections with the global cinema network. This is also the direction that the cultural sector prioritizes, to help Vietnamese cinema develop modernly but still rich in identity.
This is an opportunity for Ho Chi Minh City to continue to invest systematically in creative infrastructure, improve the quality of film production, and spread the city's youthful, modern energy to international friends.
UNESCO's recognition is not only the pride of Ho Chi Minh City but also a positive signal for the entire Vietnamese film industry. This is the time for Vietnamese cinema to step out into the world with confidence, creativity and stories rich in identity - just as the expectations of the film making community and the cinema-loving public.
The 24th Vietnam Film Festival, taking place in parallel with the announcement ceremony, is a vivid testament to Ho Chi Minh City's creative momentum. This year, the festival brings together 144 works in many genres with the participation of hundreds of artists, directors, and producers.
Not only a professional festival, the event also creates an open space for exchange, where young filmmakers can access opportunities, learn experiences and connect internationally.
