HÀ NỘI — A series of outstanding documentaries about the culture, people and the country of Việt Nam, as well as various films from European countries, will be screened at the 14th European-Vietnamese Documentary Film Festival.

The 14th European-Vietnamese Documentary Film Festival has been organised by EUNIC (the European Union National Institutes for Culture) in collaboration with the Central Documentary and Scientific Film Studio. It will be held from September 6-14 at the Central Documentary and Scientific Film Studio in Hà Nội  and at the Dciné Bến Thành Cinema in Hồ Chí Minh City.

People's Artist Trà Giang has been dubbed the 'legend of Vietnamese Revolutionary Cinema'. Photo courtesy of the Central Documentary and Scientific Film Studio

The event aims to promote cultural exchange activities between EU countries and Việt Nam.

A total of 21 documentary films, several of which have garnered awards at both international and Vietnamese film festivals, will take centre stage during the event.

The screening programme will feature nine films from Austria, Wallonia-Brussels (Belgium), Germany, Italy, Finland, Sweden, Spain, the UK and Israel alongside nine films from the Central Documentary and Scientific Film Studio and three films by independent filmmakers.

Among the documentaries produced by the Central Documentary and Scientific Film Studio, there will be the 'legend of Vietnamese Revolutionary Cinema', People's Artist Trà Giang, the art of bài chòi (folk singing), which has been honoured as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) in 2017 and the rich culture of Vietnamese ethnic minority groups.

Notably, the festival will introduce the film Những Tù Nhân Không Số (The Numberless Prisoners ) by scriptwriters Nguyễn Sỹ Hảo and Đỗ Khánh Toàn, directors Đào Duy Từ and Nguyễn Sỹ Hảo. The film chronicles the remarkable journey of women who, during the resistance against the Americans, found themselves imprisoned while carrying unborn children. In the unforgiving confines of prison, they battled adversity and deprivation, fiercely safeguarding the Party organisation while ensuring the survival of their unborn offspring. As years unfolded, those children – born in captivity – defied the odds, overcoming immense challenges to grow into outstanding citizens of society.

Audiences who admire People's Artist Trà Giang will have the opportunity to learn more about their favourite actress through the film Dòng Sông Ký Ức (Reminiscence River) by scriptwriter Đặng Thị Linh and director Nguyễn Thước.  

Origins and evolution of the folk art form of bài chòi presented through the documentary with Đồng Vọng Bài Chòi (Echoes of Bài Chòi). Photo vietnamtourism.gov.vn

Art and traditional culture enthusiasts can explore the art of hát bội (classical drama) in Bình Định through the film Ngọn Lửa Đào Tấn (The Flame of Đào Tấn) by scriptwriter Vũ Hồng Phương and director Trịnh Quang Tùng.

Audience can embark on a cinematic exploration with Đồng Vọng Bài Chòi (Echoes of Bài Chòi) – a film that unravels the origins and evolution of the folk art form known as bài chòi. Through this captivating documentary, viewers witness how bài chòi reclaims its rightful place within the community. The film, penned by Trần Nguyễn Hương Phúc and directed by artist Phùng Ngọc Phú, weaves a compelling narrative of cultural resilience.

The poignant film Trên Đỉnh Phja Khao (On the Phja Khao Peak) written by Vũ Hồng Phương and directed by Nguyễn Quang Tuấn and Đặng Thị Kim Sơn, immerses viewers in the life of a Dao ethnic family residing atop Phja Khao in the northern mountainous province of Bắc Kạn. Against the backdrop of significant life events, including the COVID-19 pandemic, their struggles, resilience and connections unfold.

The film Đi Về Phía Mặt Trời (Towards the Sun) by scriptwriter Nhiếp Hải Anh and director Đào Đức Thanh delves into the touching narratives of girls from ethnic minority backgrounds. Despite the weight of traditional customs, these courageous young women fight tenaciously for a brighter future.

The documentary Historjá – Stitches for Sápmi celebrates the remarkable Sápmi female artist Britta Marakatt-Labba. Photo courtesy of B-Reel Feature Films

With diverse content, the foreign documentaries that will be presented at the festival have garnered numerous prestigious awards. Among those, the Swedish film Historjá – Stitches for Sápmi stands out. The film is a poetic and awe-inspiring narrative that celebrates the remarkable Sápmi female artist Britta Marakatt-Labba. Sápmi is an Arctic region that stretches over four countries – Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia, where Sápmi indigenous people live. 

The Belgian film I am Chance follows the microcosm of a group of street savvy girls in the surprisingly bright, pop and artistic megacity of Kinshasa. This film was awarded the Best Documentary at the San José International Film Festival 2022 and Best Documentary at the PAMPA Documentary Film Festival 2023.

The Italian film Il Cerchio—The Circle chronicles the journey of Italian primary school students over a five-year period, capturing their unique outlook on the world. In 2023, it was awarded the David Di Donatello Award for Best Documentary Film. 

Chairman of the Central Documentary and Scientific Film Studio, Nguyễn Quang Tuấn, shared that each screening will feature a Vietnamese documentary film followed by a foreign counterpart during this year's festival. Additionally, the studio will showcase films by independent Vietnamese filmmakers. - VNS