Launched at the BGF Roundtable: “Humanity and Compassion in Vietnamese Film and Contributions to the AI World Society”
Harvard University Faculty Club, Cambridge, MA
March 11, 2025
Overview
The Friends of Vietnam-U.S. Film Collaboration program is a landmark initiative to strengthen cinematic ties between Vietnam and the United States, celebrating 30 years of normalized relations and our comprehensive strategic partnership. Spearheaded by the Boston Global Forum (BGF) and the Vietnam Film Development Association (VFDA), this program unites esteemed leaders, filmmakers, scholars, and innovators to foster creativity, advance AI-driven storytelling, and promote cultural exchange through film.
Objectives
- Enhance Industry Ties: Facilitate collaboration between Vietnamese and U.S. filmmakers, producers, and technologists to share expertise, resources, and opportunities.
- Promote Innovation: Support the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in cinema, guided by AI World Society (AIWS) standards, to responsibly shape the future of storytelling.
- Celebrate Cultural Exchange: Highlight the humanity and compassion in Vietnamese cinema while expanding its reach through U.S. platforms and vice versa.
- Build Global Networks: Connect film communities in Vietnam and the U.S. with international hubs, amplifying their impact in the AI era.
- Access Film Markets: Open pathways for Vietnamese and U.S. films to enter and thrive in each other’s markets, enhancing visibility and economic opportunities.
Key Initiatives
- AIWS Film Park: Develop a pioneering cinema hub in a beautiful city, Vietnam, linking it to Boston, New York, Hollywood, and beyond, with support from program friends.
- Da Nang Asian Film Festival Promotion: Elevate the festival’s profile in Boston and other U.S. cities, fostering cross-cultural dialogue and collaboration.
- Workshops and Exchanges: Organize events, roundtables, and mentorship programs to connect filmmakers, innovators, and scholars from both nations.
Esteemed Friends
The program is honored to include the following distinguished individuals as foundational supporters:
- Governor Michael Dukakis, Former Governor of Massachusetts, Co-Founder and Co-Chair, Boston Global Forum
- Professor Thomas Patterson, Harvard University,
- Nguyen Anh Tuan, Co-Chair and CEO, Boston Global Forum
- Meg Montagnino-Jarrett, Director, Massachusetts Film Office
- Angela Peri, Founder, Boston Casting
- Sara Archambault, Director of Harvard Shorenstein Center Doc Film Program
- Matthew Salloway, Filmmaker and CEO GSI Ventures
- Le Vinh Hoa, Director of Harvard University Vietnamese Language Program
- Tony Bui, Artist-in-Residence at Columbia University, Acclaimed Filmmaker
- Mark Kennedy, Director of the Wilson Center’s Wahba Institute for Strategic Competition, Mark Kennedy
- Lorie Conway, Boston Film Producer
- Professor Robert Desimone, MIT, Neuroscience and Technology Expert
- Professor David Silbersweig, Harvard Medical School, Innovator in Science and Culture
- Jeff Saviano, Harvard University
- Lrod, MIT Lecture
- Professor Suk-Young Kim, UCLA
- Cameron Kerry, Former Acting Secretary of Commerce
- Ngo Phuong Lan, Chairwoman, Vietnam Film Development Association (VFDA)
- Ambassador Nguyen Quoc Dung, Vietnam’s Ambassador to the United States
- Tran Thi Bich Van, Spouse of Ambassador Nguyen Quoc Dung
- Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the United Nations
- Ambassador Hoang Anh Tuan, Consul General of Viet Nam Consulate General in San Francisco, California, the United States of America
- Pham Viet Dung, VST Business Leader, VFDA
- Dinh Trong Tuan, Member of Standing Committee, VFDA
- Nguyen Phuong Hoa, Vice Chairwoman, VFDA
Roles and Contributions
The Esteemed Friends will:
- Provide strategic guidance, mentorship, and advocacy for the program’s initiatives.
- Leverage their networks to connect Vietnamese and U.S. film communities with global opportunities and markets.
- Participate in key events, such as the AIWS Film Park launch (April 2, 2025) and the Da Nang Asian Film Festival showcase (June 30, 2025).
Implementation
- Launch: Discuss at the BGF Roundtable on March 11, 2025.
- Next Steps: Convene an inaugural meeting of the Esteemed Friends by April 2025 to outline priorities, followed by workshops and exchanges throughout 2025-2026.
- Support: Backed by BGF’s strategic expertise and VFDA’s leadership, with collaboration from academic partners (Harvard, MIT, Columbia, UCLA).
Vision
The Friends of Vietnam-U.S. Film Collaboration program aspires to create a vibrant, interconnected film ecosystem that honors the past 30 years of Vietnam-U.S. relations while forging a future where cinema and AI unite to inspire, educate, and connect the world. Together, we will build bridges that amplify Vietnamese and American voices in the global AI landscape and open new markets for mutual growth.
