French-Vietnamese director François Bibonne (left) meets a native woman in the northern mountainous province of Hà Giang when making the movie Once upon a bridge in Việt Nam. Photo François Bibonne's Facebook

LONDON – Once upon a bridge in Vietnam by French-Vietnamese director François Bibonne has been screened at the Ruthin International Arts Festival (RIAF) 2024 held in the historic North Wales town of Ruthin.

The film is about a young French music reporter who decides to discover Việt Nam through investigations into classical music and get enrolled in an epic journey after his Vietnamese grandmother died.

It features beautiful natural images, unique traditional dances and costumes plus the sound and image of a symphony orchestra and unique ethnic musical instruments of Việt Nam.

Director Bibonne said that the film screening at the festival is an opportunity for him to connect with UK and international audiences and introduce Việt Nam to international friends through music – a bridge that connects people regardless of their origins.

It is the first documentary about Việt Nam by Bibonne. He planned to return Việt Nam in October this year to continue his Vietnamese cultural projects with the second one being a musical film that introduces Vietnamese football, the king sport in Việt Nam.

RIAF 2024 themed Elsewhere running from June 28 to July 28 seeks to explore the fertile intersection of cultural diversity and human connection.

The festival includes direct performance of over 50 international artists along with film screening, poetry readings, art exhibitions and workshops. VNA/VNS