DANAFF III and its exciting new features.

Following two successful seasons and being recognized as one of the top 10 outstanding cultural events of 2023 and 2024 by the Sports & Culture newspaper, the third Da Nang Asian Film Festival (DANAFF III) took place from June 29th to July 5th in Da Nang. Compared to the previous two editions, DANAFF III showed significant progress in terms of scale, duration, and program content.

Chairman of the Da Nang City People's Committee Le Trung Chinh (left) presents the award for Best Vietnamese Film in Competition to the film "Mai" by director Tran Thanh, within the framework of the 2nd Da Nang Asian Film Festival, 2024. Photo: Xuan Dung

Many new and exciting features.

One of the new changes in DANAFF III is the increased duration to 7 days compared to 5 days in the previous two editions. The total number of films selected for the programs in DANAFF III is over 100 (compared to 46 films in DANAFF I and 63 films in DANAFF II).

The number of film screenings increased to approximately 200, double that of the previous season. Notably, this year's program content has been expanded with many new highlights, most notably the introduction of the "Asian Cinema Panorama" program, which selects outstanding and successful Asian films from international film festivals over the past year, along with films chosen for their premiere at DANAFF. This year also marks the inclusion of the "Asian Film Critics' Award" within the "Asian Cinema Panorama" program.

At the press conference announcing the DANAFF III 2025 program, organized by the Vietnam Film Promotion Association in collaboration with the Da Nang City People's Committee in Hanoi , Vice Chairman of the Da Nang City People's Committee Nguyen Thi Anh Thi stated that DANAFF III will continue to provide a highly creative artistic space where filmmakers, directors, and actors can gather, interact, share, and inspire each other. “Through this event, we hope to widely introduce the image of Da Nang – a young, dynamic, friendly city with rich potential for cultural industry development – ​​to international friends,” the Vice Chairman emphasized.

In particular, in the "Film Spotlight" program of DANAFF III, South Korea was chosen and featured. This country represents a film industry with significant influence in the region and the world . Currently, the DANAFF III organizing committee, in collaboration with the Korean Cultural Center in Vietnam, the Korean Film Commission (KOFIC), and the Korean Film Institute (KOFA), is selecting and presenting 14 representative works produced from the 1960s to the present day through the program "Milestones of Korean Cinema Through Time." These films showcase the artistic prowess and cultural depth characteristic of South Korea.

Alongside the film screenings, a seminar titled "Korean Cinema: Lessons in International Success and Experiences in Film Industry Development" will be held, aiming to provide an opportunity for open and high-quality discussions about this important film industry, both in terms of studying the works with the participation of experts and scholars, and in drawing valuable lessons on creativity, management, and operation of the Korean film industry for filmmakers, managers, and those interested in cinema.

It can be seen that the cinemas of the two countries share many similarities, to a greater or lesser extent, in the themes and expressive language of films from the 1960s and 70s. However, since the 1990s, Korean cinema has made remarkable progress, leaving a strong mark on the international film map. Based on this experience, the workshop is expected to provide practical experiences and valuable references for film industries in the region.

Awards presented at the second Da Nang Asian Film Festival (DANAFF II). Photo: PV

Spreading artistic values ​​and connecting talents.

DANAFF III, in collaboration with the Vietnam Film Institute, is organizing a selection of films titled "Half a Century of Vietnamese Films on War," showcasing 22 representative works that offer a multifaceted cinematic perspective on the war. According to the organizers, DANAFF III will screen selected war films produced after 1975, including award-winning works from domestic and international film festivals that are remembered and loved by Vietnamese audiences. Alongside the film screenings, there will be meetings and conversations between the audience and renowned artists and filmmakers specializing in war films across generations.

Through a selection of films on the theme of war, filmmakers and audiences will gain insight into the new perspectives, thinking, and expressions of filmmakers in the 50 years since the reunification of the country, compared to films produced during wartime. Also included in this program is a seminar on "The Imprint of Vietnamese War Films Since National Reunification," which will comprehensively examine and evaluate the achievements, values, and position of war films in the development of cinema.

In particular, the "DANAFF Talents" program is considered a series of training, networking, and film project development activities for young, promising talents in the film industry, including: "Talent Nurturing" workshops on acting, "Project Incubators," and Master Classes for filmmakers. Through these activities, young film talents can learn, exchange ideas, and access a network of domestic and international experts.

Marking a new milestone in DANAFF III, the "Project Market" was organized for the first time as a key activity within the framework of DANAFF Talents, with two main categories: Asian art films and Vietnamese films of various genres. Despite being its first time, the "Project Market" received significant interest from filmmakers both domestically and internationally, demonstrating DANAFF's growing professional appeal in connecting and supporting cinematic creativity. From the submitted projects, the organizing committee selected 14 promising projects to participate in the development round.

The "Project Incubator" also serves as a four-day intensive learning space with workshops mentored by internationally renowned experts and supported by prestigious film funds in the region, providing practical support for Vietnamese film projects in their initial stages.

Furthermore, DANAFF III continues to nurture acting talent with two training courses: basic and advanced. Simultaneously, the thematic workshop "Discovering and Nurturing Film Talent: International Experiences and Solutions for Vietnam," bringing together leading lecturers, artists, and experts in the fields of film and training, will provide an opportunity to exchange ideas on strategies for developing high-quality human resources for the film industry in the context of integration. 2025 is also the year when young acting talents in Da Nang and Central Vietnam will have the largest presence ever.

Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Ta Quang Dong assessed that DANAFF III marks a strong development, further affirming DANAFF's role as a prestigious film meeting point in the region. DANAFF is not only a place to honor outstanding cinematic works but also a space for meeting and exchanging expertise between domestic and international filmmakers. With its scale, professionalism, and high professional quality, DANAFF III will surely bring forth outstanding works, promoting learning and professional exchange.

Besides new features, DANAFF III continues to maintain activities that have become hallmarks of previous seasons, such as: the opening ceremony, closing ceremony, and awards presentation broadcast live on VTV; two film competition categories, including 14 films in the Asian Film category and 12 films in the Vietnamese Film category; and the "Vietnamese Cinema Today" program featuring 18 newly produced Vietnamese films from the past year. Following DANAFF II, this year's Film Achievement Award will honor an outstanding Asian filmmaker who has made significant contributions to the development of cinema.

DOAN HAO LUONG

Source: https://baodanang.vn/channel/5414/202506/danaff-iii-va-nhung-diem-moi-hap-dan-4008254/