On March 15, 1953, in Dinh Hoa District in Thai Nguyen Province, the late President Ho Chi Minh signed an Executive Order to establish the revolutionary film industry of Vietnam.

The industry was established on March 15, 1953; however, Vietnamese films were being made since 1947, two years after the August Revolution.

From here, names like Mai Loc, Khuong Me, Nguyen The Doan, Nguyen Hong Nghi, Tien Loi, Pham Van Khoa, went into the history of motion pictures of Vietnam.

Nearly 300 film artists and film staff who died in two wars against France and the United States marked a generation who had contributed to the history of building and defending the country.

Nowadays Vietnamese filmmakers are winning national and international awards. But some experts say the most successful were produced during wartime or the early renewal process (1986).

Among them were Chung Mot Dong Song (Sharing the Same River), Vi Tuyen 17 Ngay Va Dem (17th Parallel Day and Night), Chi Tu Hau (Mrs Tu Hau), Con Chim Vanh Khuyen (Passerine Bird), and Bao Gio Cho Den Thang Muoi (When the 10th Month comes).

A scene from the film 17th Parallel Day and Night

20 senior artists received certificates of merit from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism at the ceremony.

Speaking at the ceremony, Ngo Phuong Lan, head of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism’s Cinematography Department, urged Vietnamese filmmakers to produce quality movies ‘full of human value’ and traditional cultural identity to develop the country’s film industry.

Lan said the industry should not only hark back to its glorious past but work harder to produce good films that bring pride to the nation.

Filmmakers need to develop a diversified cinema industry, ranging from revolutionary, historic and cultural films to artistic and entertaining ones, Lan said.

Hoang Tuan Anh, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said Vietnam should also learn from developed countries and help the film industry develop and integrate with its counterparts elsewhere.

To mark the anniversary, a film week at the National Cinema Centre will screen outstanding Vietnamese feature, documentary and cartoon films.

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