The Italian Film Festival 2025 officially opened yesterday at Galaxy Nguyen Du Cinema, marking the start of a week dedicated to contemporary Italian cinema and cultural exchange between Italy and Vietnam. On this occasion, Consul General Alessandra Tognonato delivered the following remarks, highlighting the role of cinema as a bridge between cultures and a celebration of creativity, emotion, and dialogue:
Good evening,
Distinguished guests, dear friends of Italy, dear Colleagues,
It is a great pleasure to welcome you all tonight to the opening of the 2025 Italian Film Festival here in Ho Chi Minh City.
After the remarkable success of last year’s edition, we are proud to bring back this celebration of Italian cinema — a journey through emotions, creativity, and imagination.
Cinema, for Italy, is not only an art form. It is a mirror of our culture, our society, and our identity. It reflects who we are — our passions, our contradictions, and our humanity. And it continues to evolve, connecting past and present, tradition and innovation.
This year’s selection of six films perfectly embodies that spirit.
They represent a new season of Italian cinema — diverse in tone, powerful in storytelling, and deeply human in their message.
Tonight, we open with “Vermiglio”, directed by Maura Delpero.
A film of love and memory set among the Italian Alps, where silence hides both wounds and hope.
“Vermiglio” has moved audiences around the world — winner of the Silver Lion at Venice 2024, seven David di Donatello Awards, and Italy’s choice for the 2025 Academy Awards.
But the journey continues:
“Gloria!”, by Margherita Vicario, turns a convent into a stage for music, rebellion, and women’s creativity.
“Hey Joe”, by Claudio Giovannesi, explores the fragile bond between a father and a son divided by life and destiny.
“La Vita Accanto”, by Marco Tullio Giordana, celebrates music as redemption and resilience.
“Diciannove”, by Giovanni Tortorici, offers an authentic look at a restless young generation finding its voice.
And “Nonostante”, by Valerio Mastandrea, reminds us that even in pain, there is beauty, tenderness, and rebirth.
Each of these films is a piece of Italy — its landscapes, its sounds, its emotions — shared with the world.
Together, they show how Italian cinema remains faithful to its roots while constantly renewing itself.
As Ambassador Marco Della Seta said at the Festival opening in Hanoi, cinema is also diplomacy.
It builds bridges, sparks dialogue, and allows cultures to meet beyond words.
Through films, we discover not only the stories of others, but often something deeper about ourselves.
And here, in Ho Chi Minh City, one of Asia’s most vibrant and creative cities, this dialogue feels particularly alive.
Vietnam and Italy share a profound appreciation for art, music, design, and storytelling — all expressions of beauty and humanity.
That is why this Festival is more than a cultural event. It is a celebration of friendship — between Italy and Vietnam, between our people and our imaginations.
I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to all those who made this possible:
the Embassy of Italy in Hanoi, Professor Cinzia Grieco, Mr Simon Dona’, Mr Antonio Bonomo, Ms Thuy Dao, our Vietnamese partners and sponsors, and of course, our Vietnamese audience, whose enthusiasm gives meaning to our work. Thank you to the filmmakers who continue to tell Italy’s story with courage and originality.
May these six films inspire us, move us, and remind us that cinema, like friendship, knows no borders.
Buona visione!
