The European Network of Independent Cultural Institutes in Hanoi (EUNIC), in cooperation with the Vietnam Central Studio of Documentary Scientific Film, will hold the 13th EUNIC European-Vietnamese Documentary Film Festival in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City from September 22nd to 28th.

Poster of the acclaimed Vietnamese documentary to be screened at the 13th EUNIC European-Vietnamese Documentary Film Festival.

According to Trinh Quang Tung, Deputy General Director of the National Documentary and Scientific Film Studio, the festival will feature 19 documentaries from Austria, Italy, Germany, Spain, the UK, Poland, Belgium (Wallonia-Brussels), and Vietnam. The screening of all the films will be free of charge to the public.

"This is an annual cultural event to promote cultural exchange activities between European countries and Vietnam," he said.

This year, the Delegation of Wallonia-Brussels (Belgium) to Vietnam is coordinating the film festival, in which each European country submits one film and Vietnam participates with 12 films.

These films, many of which have won major awards, deal with climate change, women's liberation, risks of the digital age, social issues, and more.

Specifically, the participating international films include Vesuvio or How They Learned to Live Among Volcanoes (Italy); The Happy Worker - Or How Work Was Sabotaged (Finland); The Girl Named Tania (Belgium); The Steadfast Ones (Germany); Where Does the Garbage Go (Austria); Living Witness: A Climate Story (UK); and Muntadas In Hanoi: A Spanish-Vietnamese Urban Interpretation (Spain).

The Spanish documentary film Muntadas In Hanoi: A Spanish-Vietnamese Urban Interpretation. Photo: Vietnam Central Studio of Documentary Scientific Film

The 12 films from Vietnam include Children Of The Mist, Secrets From The Underground, My Enemy-My Friend, Above The Clouds, and Crime Behind Trust, among others,

The festival's highlight is Muntadas In Hanoi: A Spanish-Vietnamese Urban Interpretation.

In the film, renowned Spanish conceptual artist Antoni Muntadas embarks on a quirky journey as he explores Hanoi, Vietnam, for the first time. Delving into the essence of this city, Muntadas immerses himself in its vibrant wet market and contemplatively wanders through its quiet cemetery and busy traffic. Through his quirky and introspective observations, this documentary is an exploration of the urban landscape and tapestry of life in Hanoi.

The free screenings will be held at the Central Scientific and Documentary Film Studio, 465 Hoang Hoa Tham Street, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi and DCINE Ben Thanh Cinema, 6 Mac Dinh Chi Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City.