HONG KONG — Vietnamese films have made a strong impression at the ASEAN Film Festival in Hong Kong (China), helping international audiences gain a deeper understanding of the country’s culture, history and people.

The ASEAN Film Festival 2026, organised by the Hong Kong-ASEAN Foundation in coordination with the ASEAN consulates in the special administrative region, opened on August 20 and will run until September 27.

The largest edition to date features 30 films from ASEAN member states, Hong Kong, mainland China and other countries, showcasing cultural diversity through cinema and music.

Charles China, Chief Executive Officer of the Hong Kong–ASEAN Foundation, said the festival welcomes films from all 11 ASEAN member states for the first time, including Timor-Leste – ASEAN’s newest member. Works from Russia, Australia, Bangladesh, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Nepal and Pakistan also broaden the festival’s cultural perspective.

Among the featured films is Việt Nam's historical drama Sounds Across the Ocean.

Việt Nam is taking part in the festival for the fourth time. Vietnamese Consul General in Hong Kong and Macau Lê Đức Hạnh said Việt Nam has consistently selected films with strong artistic and cultural value to introduce the country’s history, culture and people to international audiences.

She expressed her hope that Sounds Across the Ocean will leave a lasting impression and further strengthen friendship and people-to-people ties between Việt Nam and other countries.

Directed by Đào Duy Phúc and Nguyễn Mạnh Hà, Sounds Across the Ocean is set against the backdrop of Việt Nam's resistance war against French colonial rule. It portrays the harsh yet resilient lives and aspirations for freedom of revolutionary fighters imprisoned at Côn Đảo Prison.

Filmed on location in Côn Đảo Island, the movie offers an authentic historical setting while highlighting Việt Nam's struggle for national independence and freedom.

Vietnamese entries at previous editions, including The Life of Yến, Peach Blossom, Phở and Piano, Yellow Flowers on the Green Grass and Dreamy Eyes, have also won acclaim from Hong Kong and regional audiences. — VNA/VNS