On December 23, 2025, at Vu Dinh Lien Hall, the University of Languages and International Studies – Vietnam National University, Hanoi (ULIS – VNU) organized the Gala & Psychology Film Festival – Psy – Film Fest 2025. The event aimed to create a platform for ULIS students to explore and express psychological issues through the language of cinema, while also promoting positive awareness of mental health within the student community.

Attending the event, on behalf of ULIS – VNU, were Vice President Ha Le Kim Anh, leaders and staff of the Faculty of Psychology and Liberal Education, along with a large number of interested students. Distinguished guests included Nguyen Dinh Quyen – Lecturer of the Faculty of Television, Hanoi University of Theatre and Cinema, and Nguyen Thu Quynh – director and actress from the Youth Theatre of Vietnam.

Opening the program, Vice President Ha Le Kim Anh delivered a welcoming speech at the Gala & Psychology Film Festival – Psy – Film Fest 2025. In her remarks, she emphasized that the integration of psychology and cinema represents a creative and innovative approach, contributing to the dissemination of humanistic values and enhancing educational effectiveness for ULIS students. She also highly appreciated the students’ proactiveness, creativity, and sense of social responsibility demonstrated through their participation in the festival.

Speaking at the event, director and actress Nguyen Thu Quynh expressed her honor at being invited to attend the festival. She shared that her participation was not only in the role of a jury member, but also an opportunity to listen, learn, and further develop her understanding of new creative ideas and approaches through the students’ short film projects.

At the Gala, the ten most outstanding teams presented their films, offering vivid portrayals of psychological aspects of human life, ranging from personal emotions and social relationships to academic pressure and the journey of self-understanding and self-acceptance. Following each screening, teams were given approximately two minutes to present and explain the ideas and messages conveyed in their films.

Immediately after each presentation, the Jury and invited experts provided professional feedback and raised questions to further clarify the content, approach, and psychological values reflected in the films. These evaluations not only helped the filmmaking teams better recognize their strengths and areas for improvement, but also offered the audience valuable academic and practical perspectives on human psychology through cinema.

The program continued with a Q&A session that attracted enthusiastic participation from students. Numerous questions and discussions focused on psychological issues depicted in the films, the scriptwriting process, and the creative experiences of the filmmaking teams. The lively and open exchange reflected students’ strong interest in psychology and cinema. Experts, lecturers, and guest speakers attentively listened and offered insightful professional guidance, enriching the learning experience for participants.

In the subsequent segment, the Organizing Committee announced and honored the outstanding works of the festival. Notably, the First Prize was awarded to Team 4 for the film Nomophobia – the fear of being without a mobile phone. The film impressed the Jury with its relatable approach and its reflection of a common psychological issue in modern life, particularly among young people, thereby contributing to greater awareness of mental health in the context of rapid technological development.

The program concluded with a warm networking session and commemorative photo-taking among the Organizing Committee, Jury members, guests, lecturers, and students. The friendly and emotionally rich atmosphere left a lasting impression on all participants.

Ngọc Anh/ĐSTT