Vientianale International Film Festival

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 living in Laos. Over 150 films have been entered and screened across editions, with several entries going on to represent Laos at international film festivals. The competition screening and awards ceremony take place on the final night of the festival. The festival also provides free workshops covering basic shooting techniques and editing with limited equipment, including mobile phones and basic cameras, to encourage film production among provincial youth.

For International Filmmakers

Vientianale accepts international submissions through its open entry process. Films targeting a Lao and international general audience with the primary aim of entertaining and providing inspiration to future filmmakers in Laos have the strongest programming fit. Documentaries about environmental, social, or cultural topics relevant to Laos and the Mekong region are particularly well-suited to the Insight sections. All submissions are subject to government review by the Department of Cinema, which means films with politically sensitive content may not receive screening approval.

For Regional Southeast Asian Filmmakers

The Mekong Region programming creates connections between filmmakers from Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam. The festival's partnerships with regional organizations and development partners have helped bring filmmaking training and equipment access to Lao filmmakers. Filmmakers from Mekong countries sharing the river basin's cultural and environmental context will find a receptive audience.

Irregular Schedule

Vientianale has not maintained a reliable annual schedule. The festival was originally bi-annual, transitioned to annual programming, and added Mini Vientianale as a separate short film event. The most recent confirmed editions are the 7th Vientianale in March 2017 and the second Mini Vientianale in March 2016. The festival website (vientianale.org) remains online but has not been updated with recent editions. Filmmakers should verify the festival's status before planning a submission or attendance.

Festival History

Vientianale was founded in 2009 by a group of German film enthusiasts as Laos's first international film festival. Originally a bi-annual event, the festival was organized by a team of Lao and international coordinators with the support of the Lao government, local organizations, and international embassies.

The 7th edition in March 2017 ran for 5 days, with daytime screenings at the Lao Cinema Department and nighttime screenings at Walking Street, Vientiane's outdoor recreation area on the Mekong riverside. The festival screened 41 new Lao shorts in its competition section and introduced six new award categories sponsored by Lao film production houses including Lao New Wave Cinema, Lao Art Media, Mind Media, Lao Motion Pictures, Baan Tonmali Cake, and Cine Art.

In 2013, the festival launched Mini Vientianale, Laos's first dedicated short film festival. The first Mini Vientianale attracted 800 people over two nights. The second edition in March 2016 drew over 1,500 people across a full three-day program with films, workshops, and an artistic side program.

Also in 2013, Vientianale launched Vientianale On The Road, a provincial outreach program that brought mobile screenings and filmmaking workshops to remote areas of Laos. The program visited 8 Lao provinces in 2013-2014, conducting screenings in 35 schools and 35 villages per round. The 2015 round focused on 5 provinces in southern Laos. The program was supported by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation and the Embassy of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.

After 2017-2018, the festival's activity became less visible. The website remains online but has not announced new editions. The festival's irregular schedule reflects the broader challenges of Laos's film industry, which has limited production infrastructure, minimal exhibition venues, and a small domestic audience for cinema.

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

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.