Director François Bibonne talks about his journey to Vietnam in the program La Veillée in Avignon, France. (Photo: VNA)

In the film a young French music reporter decides to explore Vietnam by investigating classical music and gets caught up in an epic journey after his Vietnamese grandmother dies. The film contains traditional dances and costumes, a symphony orchestra, and unique ethnic musical instruments of Vietnam.

RIAF 2024 screened “Once upon a bridge in Vietnam” at the recommendation of Goldsmiths, University of London, after the film made an impression at a screening there last year. Before coming to the UK, the film debuted at Harvard University and Columbia University in the US and won the Outstanding Short Documentary Film award at the 2022 Los Angeles Film Awards.

Taking place from June 28 to July 28, RIAF 2024 features artists, poets, directors, and creators from more than 40 countries and regions around the world, with art forms ranging from contemporary performances, installations, sounds, films, theatre, to poetry, writings and social engagement.