Overview
Vientianale is Laos's first international film festival, founded in 2009 by a group of German film enthusiasts in Vientiane, the Lao capital on the Mekong River. The festival screens features, shorts, documentaries, animation, and video art from Laos, Southeast Asia, and the rest of the world. All events are free and open to the public. The festival has drawn a combined audience of more than 10,000 across its editions, with the 7th edition in 2017 screening a record 41 new Lao shorts in its competition section alone.
Laos has one of the smallest film industries in Southeast Asia. Vientianale addresses this directly: the festival runs free filmmaking workshops, hosts meet-and-greets with visiting international professionals, and operates a provincial outreach program called Vientianale On The Road that has brought mobile screenings and workshops to 8 Lao provinces, reaching over 15,000 people in schools and villages. The festival partners with Lao New Wave Cinema, Lao Art Media, and other local production houses to develop emerging Lao filmmaking talent.
The festival has no FilmFreeway presence and no online submission platform. Submissions are handled directly through the festival website, with films reviewed by the Department of Cinema under the Ministry of Information and Culture before public screening approval is granted. There is no submission fee. The festival is not FIAPF-accredited and has no official film market.
Submission Process and Fees
Vientianale operates an open entry submission process with no fee:
- Submission fee: Free
- Submission format: Films submitted on DVD along with an entry form downloadable from the Vientianale website
- Eligibility: Feature films, short films, documentaries, music videos, and video art pieces targeting a Lao and international general audience
- Content review: All submissions must be approved by the Department of Cinema, Ministry of Information and Culture before public screening
- Deadline: Varies by edition. The 2011 deadline was March 4. Filmmakers should check the official website for current deadlines
The festival has not maintained a consistent annual schedule. Originally bi-annual, it transitioned to annual programming and added Mini Vientianale, a dedicated short film festival, starting in 2014. The most recent confirmed edition is the 7th Vientianale in March 2017 and Mini Vientianale in March 2016. Filmmakers should verify whether the festival is active before submitting.
Key Sections
- Open Entry Screenings - international features, shorts, documentaries, animation, and video art submitted through the open entry process
- Short Film Competition - annual competition for emerging filmmaking talent living in Laos, with over 150 films entered and screened across editions
- Rising Star Competition - competition category for established filmmakers, added in 2018
- Insight Laos - documentary program focused on Lao social, environmental, and cultural topics
- Insight Cambodia / Mekong Region - films from neighboring Mekong countries (Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam)
- International Shorts - curated short film programs from outside Southeast Asia
- Free Workshops - filmmaking training sessions conducted by established Lao filmmakers and visiting international professionals
- Vientianale On The Road - provincial outreach program bringing mobile screenings and workshops to remote areas of Laos
Awards and Prizes
The Vientianale Awards are presented on the final night of the festival. Both the Short Film Competition and the Rising Star Competition award films in 5 categories:
- Best Film
- Best Directing
- Best Acting
- Best Editing
- Best Original Screenplay
Lao New Wave Cinema also presents a special award for the most promising newcomer. The independent jury is composed of established Lao filmmakers and media professionals who hold feedback sessions and workshops with competition entrants after the festival.
What Filmmakers Should Know
For Lao Filmmakers
The Short Film Competition is the most important competitive platform for emerging filmmakers in Laos. Over 150 films have been entered across editions. The festival provides free workshops covering basic shooting and editing with limited equipment, including mobile phones.
For International Filmmakers
Vientianale accepts international submissions through its open entry process. Films targeting a Lao and international audience with the aim of entertaining and inspiring future filmmakers have the strongest fit. All submissions face government review by the Department of Cinema.
For Regional Southeast Asian Filmmakers
The Mekong Region programming connects filmmakers from Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam. Filmmakers from Mekong countries sharing the river basin's cultural and environmental context will find a receptive audience.
Festival History
Vientianale was founded in 2009 by German film enthusiasts as Laos's first international film festival. Originally bi-annual, the festival was organized with support from the Lao government, local organizations, and international embassies.
The 7th edition in March 2017 ran for 5 days, screening 41 new Lao shorts in competition. The festival introduced 6 new award categories sponsored by Lao production houses including Lao New Wave Cinema, Lao Art Media, and Mind Media.
In 2013, the festival launched Mini Vientianale, Laos's first dedicated short film festival. The second edition in March 2016 drew over 1,500 people across a 3-day program. Also in 2013, Vientianale On The Road brought mobile screenings to 8 Lao provinces, conducting screenings in 35 schools and 35 villages per round.
After 2017-2018, the festival's activity became less visible. The irregular schedule reflects the broader challenges of Laos's film industry, which has limited production infrastructure and a small domestic audience.
Practical Information
- Location: Vientiane, Lao PDR. Screenings at the Lao Cinema Department, Walking Street (Mekong riverside), and the National Cultural Hall
- Admission: All events are free and open to the public
- Website: vientianale.org
- Submission contact: Check the open entry page for the current submission form and delivery address
- Government review: All films must be approved by the Department of Cinema, Ministry of Information and Culture before public screening
Past Winners
Vientianale's Short Film Competition is the main juried prize. The competition awards films in 5 categories: Best Film, Best Directing, Best Acting, Best Editing, and Best Original Screenplay. Cash prizes range from $200 to $800 USD.
2017 (7th edition, most recent confirmed):
- Best Film: Chan Keo (dir. Sonepasith Phonphila). The film also won Best Actor for Sanon Manyphon.
- Best Film 2nd Prize: Indee Killer (dir. Xam Keodouangdy), which also won Best Editing.
- Best Film 3rd Prize: The Last Conversation (dir. Thavisub Khamphoumee), which also won Best Sound and Best Actress.
- Best Director: Houmphanh Phahongchanh for Looking For...
- Best Original Screenplay: Sinh's Papaya Salad (dir. Soukthavone Phanyaphone), which also won the Lao New Wave Award.
2015 (5th edition): 1st Prize went to Father's Handprint (dir. Kesone Keola). 2nd Prize: Whose Daughter (dir. Anoulek Douangdala), which also won the Audience Prize.
2013 (3rd edition): 1st Prize: Teddy Jay (dir. Vilayphong Lee Phongsavanh). 2nd Prize: Forever (dir. Thomas Wanhof). 3rd Prize: The Bad Dream (dir. Nirankoon Singpraseuth).
2011 (2nd edition): 1st Prize ($800): The Calendar (dir. Thanavorakit Kounthawatphinyo), which also won the UN Best Young Filmmaker Award.
Over 150 films have been entered and screened across editions, with several going on to represent Laos at international festivals.
Notable Alumni Films
Vientianale's short film competition has produced filmmakers who advanced to larger platforms:
- Chan Keo (2017, dir. Sonepasith Phonphila) won Best Film at Vientianale 2017. The film was shared on Vimeo and received coverage from Lao Connection and Lao news outlets.
- The Long Walk (2019, dir. Mattie Do) did not premiere at Vientianale but represents the most significant international breakthrough for Lao cinema. The film premiered at the Venice Film Festival and later screened at Toronto. It was distributed theatrically by Yellow Veil Pictures in 2022. Mattie Do is Laos's first female filmmaker and a Vientianale partner through Lao New Wave Cinema.
- Vientiane in Love (2015, dirs. Anysay Keola, Xaisongkham Induangchanthy, Vannaphone Sitthirath, Phanumad Disattha) was produced by Lao New Wave Cinema, a Vientianale partner. The anthology film had a domestic theatrical release in Laos.
Submission Tips
- Submit films on DVD with a downloadable entry form from the Vientianale website. The festival does not use FilmFreeway or online submission platforms.
- Target a Lao and international general audience. Films that entertain and provide inspiration to future Lao filmmakers have the strongest programming fit.
- Prepare for government review. All submissions must be approved by the Department of Cinema, Ministry of Information and Culture. Films with politically sensitive content may not receive screening approval.
- Submit documentaries about environmental, social, or cultural topics relevant to Laos and the Mekong region. The Insight sections program these specifically.
- There is no submission fee. All events are free and open to the public, which means the festival operates on grant and embassy funding rather than filmmaker fees.
- Verify the festival is active before submitting. The most recent confirmed edition was the 7th Vientianale in March 2017. The website remains online but has not announced new editions.
Industry Reputation Notes
Vientianale is a small community festival with no industry market, no FIAPF accreditation, and no sales agent presence. Industry professionals do not attend Vientianale for acquisitions or distribution deals.
The festival's reputation rests on its role as Laos's only international film festival and its short film competition for emerging Lao filmmakers. The competition has trained a generation of Lao directors who later worked with Lao New Wave Cinema and other production houses.
Compared to the Luang Prabang Film Festival (the other Lao festival), Vientianale has stronger grassroots community engagement through its provincial outreach program. The Luang Prabang festival focuses more on Southeast Asian regional programming. Neither festival functions as an industry marketplace.
Compared to Southeast Asian festivals like Busan or the Singapore International Film Festival, Vientianale operates at a fundamentally different scale. Those festivals attract international buyers and run co-production markets. Vientianale's value is cultural development, not industry transactions.
See Also
For Southeast Asian cinema context, see International Film Markets. For festival submission strategy, see Film Festival Strategy. Use the Festival Entry Fee ROI Calculator to evaluate the cost-benefit of submitting to festivals with paid submission fees. For regional festival alternatives, see Festival do Rio in Brazil or FICCI Cartagena in Colombia.
