India and Vietnam join hands for first co-produced film

The second edition of the Namaste Vietnam Festival organised jointly by the Indian Embassy and Consulate General of India in Vietnam under the aegis of Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India and Innovations India saw a number MOU’s being signed to bolster the bilateral relations between India and Vietnam.

In a Landmark event towards boosting the cultural relations between India & Vietnam, A MOU was signed between the Government of Phú Yên province of Vietnam and the Curator of Namaste Vietnam Festival, Captain Rahul Bali towards Film Cooperation and Collaboration in Film Making.

The MOU signing ceremony was organised at the beautiful Stelia Beach Resort in Phú Yên and was attended by the Honourable Consul General of India Dr. Madan Mohan Sethi, Vice Chairman of Phú Yên Provincial People’s Committee Mr. Dao My, Owner of Stelia Beach Resort Mr. Tran Duy Hung, Eminent Filmmakers & Actors from India and a number of Vietnamese Dignitaries.

Internationally acclaimed film makers Rahhat Shah Kazmi & Tariq Khan who are known for making International co-productions officially announced the first India - Vietnam co-production film to be shot in Phú Yên province of Vietnam later this year.

Rahhat Shah Kazmi has won more than 50 international awards including Best Director Award at BAFTA by UK Asian Film Festival in 2017. He was also nominated as Best Director in Bollywood ITA Awards in the year 2022 for his film LIHAAF that he co-produced with the legendary Oscar Winning French Filmmaker Marc Baschet.

Conforming to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s reiteration that Vietnam is a key partner of India's Act East Policy, the Namaste Vietnam Festival 2023 has become an effective networking platform to promote business and cultural relations between India & Vietnam. MOU’s worth more than USD 1 billion were signed between business enterprises from both the nations during various seminars and meets as part of this Mega Festival conducted in different provinces across Vietnam from 12th -20th August 2023.

Speaking to the media, Captain Rahul Bali said, “History is in the making as two great cultures are getting ready to amalgamate their cinematic prowess by collaborating for the first India- Vietnam co-produced Film. This is indeed the beginning of an artistic era of collaboration and joint productions. I am elated to be the curator of the Namaste Vietnam Festival 2023 that has become an effective platform to explore such great possibilities and I am sure that the results of this collaboration would be mind blowing.”