18 projects were selected to participate in the Project Incubator at DANAFF IV.

VTV.vn - This year's program continues to maintain two strong categories: Asian Art Film Projects and Vietnamese Commercial/Multigenre Film Projects.

Launched in 2025, the DANAFF Talents Project Incubator – a film talent discovery and development program under the Da Nang Asian Film Festival – officially returns with many practical activities for filmmakers both domestically and internationally. This year's program continues to maintain its two strong categories: Asian Art-house Projects and Vietnamese Commercial/Multigenre Film Projects.

Despite being only in its first season, the DANAFF Project Incubator has already reaped encouraging rewards. A prime example is the film " Thank You for Staying Up with Me " by director Chung Chi Cong, a rare Vietnamese musical film that grossed over 44 billion VND at the box office and received high praise from critics for the team's daring spirit in bringing a genre unfamiliar to audiences to the screen. In addition, " Flying Dairy Cow " (Director: Nguyen Pham Thanh Dat, Producer: Nguyen Huu Thi Tuong Vi) – a project that won the Most Promising Project award from the Motion Picture Association of America (MPA) – has just finished editing and is scheduled to premiere in theaters nationwide this November. The film features Nguyen Hung, Ngoc Xuan, Vo Dien Gia Huy… all popular young actors who have participated in DANAFF's Talent Incubator acting classes in previous seasons.

Expanding the global network for Asian art films.

This year's Asian Art Film Project category is divided into two branches for filmmakers from within and outside the ASEAN bloc. Participants will undergo intensive training workshops, participate in pitching sessions before an international jury, and connect directly with experts, producers, and distributors within the network of major art film festivals and distribution networks worldwide .

Specifically, after completing the DANAFF Talents course, ASEAN projects will continue to refine their projects at two workshops in the international Asia-Europe training series: Thailand (September 2026) and France (December 2026). In France, filmmakers will have the opportunity to connect with European co-producers through a series of activities under the Cinema du Monde Foundation of the French National Cinema Centre (CNC). This journey across three countries is guaranteed by leading strategic partners such as: the Production & Storytelling Program (Three Continents International Film Festival, Nantes, France), the French Embassy in Vietnam, the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs , the French Institute, and the Cinema du Monde Foundation (CNC).

In the category of Vietnamese commercial/multi-genre film projects, DANAFF 2026 marks its return with a completely new look called "Script Lab". This 10-day intensive scriptwriting workshop will take place in Da Nang in June and July. Here, the 8 best feature film scripts will be selected for comprehensive development with advice and guidance from professors and experts from Columbia University (USA) – one of the world's most prestigious film schools. After the course, authors will participate in pitching sessions before an international judging panel and connect deeply with domestic and international investors, producers, and distributors through one-on-one meetings at the Project Market.

The immense appeal and reunion of big names.

The partnership with prestigious international film organizations not only affirms the growing reputation of DANAFF Talents, but also demonstrates the practical value the program brings to the community.

The 2026 Project Incubator witnessed a surge with over 350 applications in both categories. Notably, this year's class welcomed back many veteran faces. In the art film project category, director Dastan Zhapar Ryskeldi ( winner of the Best Asian Film award at DANAFF 2025 with his work "Deal At The Border ") submitted his new project "Zholdogu Bala ( Stuck like babies)" ; director Nguyen Trung Nghia (whose short film was selected for Cannes Directors' Fortnight 2024) participated with the project "The Rat's Wedding" .

This year also marks the return of South Asian or South Asian-themed projects, such as Golden Swan by Bangladeshi director Rajib Rafi and Before the Earth Collapses by Japanese director Noriko Yuasa, both scheduled to be filmed in Japan, Nepal, and Bangladesh. These choices reflect DANAFF's desire to connect with cinematic traditions or locations less seen on the international screen but in need of exploration.

At the Script Lab "playground," alongside promising young talents such as Tran Quang Thien, Ngo Thanh Phong, and Vu Nguyen Nam Khue, the list of participating filmmakers also includes prominent names in Vietnamese cinema such as directors Nguyen Quang Dung, Phan Gia Nhat Linh, and Dinh Tuan Vu, along with screenwriters Tran Khanh Hoang, Kim & ToTo Chan...

DANAFF Talents' intensive training programs are not only a place where ideas are tested, reviewed, advised, and critiqued by leading industry experts to be perfected, but also a launching pad to help filmmakers realize their works through direct networking opportunities at the project market. By deeply penetrating the global film ecosystem with partners such as Columbia University in the USA, the Three Continents International Film Festival, and the CNC World Film Fund in France, DANAFF Talents is gradually contributing to establishing a professional filmmaking environment, connecting young talents to the international production network, and promoting the sustainable development of the Vietnamese film industry.

Source: https://vtv.vn/18-du-an-duoc-chon-tham-du-cua-vuon-uom-du-an-tai-danaff-iv-10026052921330529.htm