Vietnam on Screen: A Celebratory Evening of Vietnamese Cinema

Lê Nguyễn Tường Vân · July 22, 2025
Vietnam on Screen: A Celebratory Evening of Vietnamese Cinema

On the evening of July 19, 2025, Columbia University played host to Vietnam on Screen: Generations in Dialogue, a landmark event celebrating the dynamic voices shaping contemporary Vietnamese cinema. Co-hosted by the Weatherhead East Asian Institute (WEAI) and the New York Asian Film Festival (NYAFF), the event brought together filmmakers, artists, and audiences for a night of conversation, connection, and cinematic exploration.

 

The evening opened with remarks by Ambassador Đỗ Hùng Việt, Vietnam’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, whose presence set a tone of cultural diplomacy and artistic bridge-building. This was followed by a thought-provoking panel discussion moderated by filmmaker Tony Bui, director of the award-winning Three Seasons, Artist-in-Residence at WEAI, and curator of Criterion’s Legacies of War series.

 

The panel featured three generations of Vietnamese and Vietnamese-American creative voices:

 

  • Kiều Chinh, a legendary actress, producer, and philanthropist, whose career spans over six decades and multiple continents. Her life and work represent a remarkable legacy of resilience and cultural representation in global cinema.
  • Catherine T. Nguyễn, a rising director and producer known for her sensitive, boundary-crossing storytelling. Her films—including Chicken (Tribeca 2022) and White Butterfly—speak to diasporic identity and generational memory.
  • Nguyễn Lâm Thảo Tâm, a young voice from Vietnam’s new cinematic wave, acclaimed for her performances in Mắt Biếc, Fanti, and Móng Vuốt. A graduate of Fulbright University Vietnam, Thảo Tâm brings a multidisciplinary approach that blends visual storytelling with social inquiry.

 

Together, the speakers reflected on their creative journeys, the evolution of Vietnamese film at home and abroad, and the role of cinema in fostering global dialogue around history, identity, and imagination.

 

Following the panel, guests gathered for a lively reception that furthered the spirit of community and cross-cultural exchange.

 

The evening concluded with the U.S. premiere of Skin of Youth, the latest feature from Vietnamese-born director Ash Mayfair, celebrated internationally for her debut The Third Wife. Set in a dreamlike vision of 1990s Saigon, the film tells the story of San, a transgender cabaret performer, and Nam, her lover and underground fighter, as they navigate love, danger, and the search for liberation amidst societal constraints. With lush cinematography and a tender but unflinching gaze, Skin of Youth is a bold meditation on gender, intimacy, and resilience. The screening was introduced by representatives from the festival and the director.

 

More than just a celebration of film, Vietnam on Screen spotlighted the power of storytelling to connect generations, geographies, and futures. In its blend of art and dialogue, the evening underscored Vietnamese cinema’s growing role on the global stage—and its ability to speak to our shared human experiences.

 

 

About the Partners

 

Weatherhead East Asian Institute (Columbia University)
 A premier research institute for East Asian studies, WEAI fosters dialogue across cultures and disciplines through events, residencies, and academic programming.

 

New York Asian Film Festival (NYAFF)
 Founded in 2002, NYAFF is one of North America's leading showcases for Asian cinema, renowned for celebrating bold and original voices from across the continent.