Vietnam Film Festival in the UK: Spreading national culture through cinema

The Ease House Star Film Festival, the UK's only Vietnamese film event, has just opened its second season at the Rich Mix Cinema, Shoreditch, London.

The event is not only an occasion to honor Vietnamese cinema heritage but also a cultural bridge for the Vietnamese community in the Land of Fog.

This year's festival focuses specifically on the Doi Moi period, bringing together rare and never-before-seen films from the UK.

The highlight of the opening night was the film "Singing in the Rainy Afternoon" (1990) by director Tran Phuong, a work that has been in the archives for 35 years.

Audiences were immersed in a multidimensional artistic space when enjoying both contemporary music through the music video "For the Honor" by rapper Jianbo and a unique performance by DJ Nammy Wams.

In an interview with the Vietnam News Agency in the UK, director Tuyet Van Huynh said: "Launched in 2024, Star Nha Ease will become the first Vietnamese film festival in the UK.

Poster introducing the film "Singing in the Rainy Afternoon" (1990) - a musical film directed by Tran Phuong. (Photo: Phong Ha/VNA)

The first season of the festival attracted a large audience of all ages, many of whom experienced Vietnamese films for the first time through the eyes of Vietnamese people, with laughter, tears and a deep sense of attachment. This success has motivated Star Nhà Ease to launch a second season."

The festival will take place from July to August 2025 in three major cities: London, Birmingham and Manchester.

The program not only introduces films but also includes live music, poetry, workshops and art exhibitions.

Besides "Singing in the Rainy Afternoon," audiences can also enjoy works such as "Dancing Girl" (2002), "The Children in the Mist" (2021) - an Oscar-nominated documentary, and "The Bitter Taste of Love."

In particular, the exhibition "Rewind and Reframe" (July 3-August 13) displays redesigned Vietnamese movie posters, with limited editions that can be auctioned online until August 31. All proceeds will support the next seasons of Star Nhà Ease./.