What to expect from the 3rd Danang Asian Film Festival?

Longer term and larger scale

If in the previous two editions, the Da Nang Asian Film Festival had 5 days of official activities, this year, the Organizing Committee increased the event's duration to 7 days (from June 29 to July 5), with many new activities.

Kỳ vọng gì ở LHP châu Á Đà Nẵng lần 3?- Ảnh 1. — Dr. Ngo Phuong Lan *(left)* and artist Chieu Xuan at the press conference to introduce the 3rd Da Nang Asian Film Festival

According to the announcement, the total number of films selected for the programs is more than 100, a significant increase compared to the previous two festivals, which were 46 and 63 films respectively. Not to mention, the number of film screenings also increased to 200, double that of the previous season.

In addition to activities such as the screening program of Half a Century of Vietnamese War Films (introducing typical works to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the country's reunification); the seminar Imprints of Vietnamese war films since the country's reunification; the program Imprints of Korean cinema through each period of time... , DANAFF III has many new features, notably the program Panorama of Asian cinema - not only gathering award-winning projects at prestigious film festivals but also introducing works that are premiering internationally for the first time.

The fact that international filmmakers chose DANAFF III as the stage to launch their projects shows their trust in the Organizing Committee. This year, the number of Asian films submitted for selection is much higher. Therefore, the Organizing Committee has a wider range of options. In particular, the Asian Film Competition and Panorama of Asian Cinema has 11 projects, of which 7 films are premiering for the first time. "This is a proud number, proving the prestige of the Film Festival", said Dr. Ngo Phuong Lan, President of the Vietnam Association for the Promotion of Cinema Development.

In addition, the Film Festival also has a series of activities to train, connect and develop film projects for promising young talents in the field of cinema such as the Acting Talent Incubation Workshop, Project Incubator ... along with exciting outdoor activities such as: outdoor film screenings, photo exhibitions, cultural experiences...

According to the announcement from the Organizing Committee, the event is expected to gather a series of famous stars. Among them, Korean stars such as Ji Chang-wook, Ji Seung-hyun, Park Sung-woong, Moon So-ri confirmed to attend.

Expectations for DANAFF III

Sharing with us about the organization, Dr. Ngo Phuong Lan said that she and her colleagues started building the program framework right after the successful 2nd Da Nang Asian Film Festival in July 2024, with the idea of honoring and promoting the cinematic heritage, while honoring new creative works and discovering and nurturing young talents. The program not only received the attention and response of Asian and Vietnamese filmmakers but also received support from major film agencies and organizations in the world such as the French National Cinema Center (CNC), the American Cinema Association (MPA)...

Kỳ vọng gì ở LHP châu Á Đà Nẵng lần 3?- Ảnh 2. — Korean film My Friend is a Murderer will premiere at the Da Nang Asian Film Festival

After two previous editions, the Da Nang Asian Film Festival has brought a truly international playground for Vietnamese filmmakers. There, they can experience, compete, and participate in an objective competition because all the jury members are international and Vietnamese, who are also famous and experienced filmmakers and experts. It cannot be denied that DANAFF has gradually created excitement for Vietnamese filmmakers when submitting films and enthusiastically participating in specialized and useful professional activities. "In the Vietnamese film lineup selected for the competition, there have appeared a number of new directors in addition to familiar directors, proving that the Vietnamese filmmaking community has expanded and become more diverse," said Dr. Ngo Phuong Lan.

When asked about her expectations for DANAFF III, Dr. Ngo Phuong Lan said: "I hope that there will be a few film projects from DANAFF Talents that will go far in the cinematic journey and I hope that everyone - from delegates, guests to the audience - will have exciting and rewarding days and leave with the desire to return to DANAFF IV in 2026."

Meanwhile, Ms. Nguyen Thi Anh Thi, Vice Chairwoman of Da Nang City People's Committee, shared: "We hope that DANAFF III will continue to bring a creative art space, where filmmakers, directors, and actors gather, exchange, share, and inspire. We hope that through this event, the image of Da Nang - a young, dynamic, friendly city with great potential for cultural industry development will be widely introduced to international friends."

FIRST ASIAN FILM CRITICS AWARD

This year's festival also marks the appearance of the Asian Film Critics Award. According to the Organizing Committee, in the digital age and the explosion of information on newspapers and social networks, the voices of critics are limited while the function of criticism is to build and protect professional standards of works, discover and encourage new elements, cultivate aesthetics and guide public opinion. Therefore, in DANAFF III, the Organizing Committee decided to establish a jury to evaluate and award the Critics Award to the outstanding Asian film of the Asian Cinema Panorama program with the hope that the voices of critics will be paid attention to.

"I really hope that when professional standards are protected, aesthetics are improved, and public opinion is not disturbed, Vietnamese cinema will have the opportunity to develop in an increasingly professional direction," Dr. Ngo Phuong Lan hopes.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/ky-vong-gi-o-lhp-chau-a-da-nang-lan-3-185250628200027511.htm