Viet Film Fest is back and bigger than ever! The Vietnamese American Arts and Letters Association (VAALA) has officially announced the return of Viet Film Fest 2024, the largest international Vietnamese film festival in the diaspora. This year’s festival runs from October 5 to 20, with both virtual screenings and an exciting in-person celebration from October 11 to 13. Set against designs inspired by the California landscape, it will be a destination event for indie film lovers.
Founded by Ysa Le and Tram Le in 2003 to spotlight underrepresented Vietnamese stories, the festival has grown into a global showcase, pulling in submissions from all over the world—Australia, Vietnam, Japan, and more. This year’s lineup is massive, featuring 39 short films and 11 features, breaking submission records. If you’re into films celebrating the Vietnamese experience across borders, this is where you must be.
Festival Highlights to Watch For:
Opening Night Screening: The festival kicks off on October 11 with Ru, Charles-Olivier Michaud’s adaptation of Kim Thúy’s novel, diving into the struggles of a wealthy Vietnamese family starting fresh in a small Canadian town.
RU – Viet Film Fest 2024
Centerpiece Screening – New Wave (West Coast Premiere): Elizabeth Ai’s New Wave chronicles the rebellion and joy of Vietnamese American teens in the ’80s, set to the soundtrack of Eurodisco. It’s already made waves at Tribeca, so expect this screening to be one of the festival’s hottest tickets.
25th Anniversary Screening of Three Seasons in 4K: Tony Bui’s legendary film gets a 4K revival, celebrating its groundbreaking role in Vietnamese American cinema. Bui will also be honored with the Inspiration Award for opening doors to a new generation of filmmakers.
Industry Networking Event: For filmmakers, the closing day wraps with a networking event and panel on Vietnamese representation in American cinema. Get ready to rub elbows with the industry’s next big names.
If you’re in Santa Ana, don’t miss the chance to catch free short films like But Not for Me and Love, Actualized as a thank-you to the host city. And, for music fans, be sure to stick around for Elizabeth Ai’s book launch, New Wave: Rebellion and Reinvention in the Vietnamese Diaspora.
Get ready for two weeks of groundbreaking Vietnamese stories told through indie cinema. Visit vietfilmfest.com for tickets and scheduling information.
Stay tuned for more updates, and follow @vietfilmfest on Facebook and Instagram for the latest buzz!
