Asian Film Festival - Da Nang: Bringing Vietnamese cinema to international level

Scale and quality

Dr. Ngo Phuong Lan, President of the Vietnam Association for the Promotion of Cinema Development and Director of the Film Festival, affirmed that DANAFF III has made remarkable progress compared to the previous two seasons: The organization time has been extended to 7 days (compared to 5 days previously), the total number of selected films has increased to more than 100, and the number of film screenings has reached about 200 (double the previous season).

This year’s program has also been expanded with many new highlights. Notably, the program “Asian Cinema Panorama” has been launched, which selects outstanding and successful films at international film festivals in the past year, along with films that have chosen this festival for their premiere. This year also marks the appearance of the “Asian Film Critics Award” within the program.

Some outstanding films participating in the Asian Film Festival - Da Nang

Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Ta Quang Dong assessed that DANAFF III continues to affirm its role as a prestigious cinema venue in the region. The festival not only honors outstanding cinema works but is also a space for meeting and exchanging expertise between domestic and international filmmakers. DANAFF is a bridge to bring stories imbued with Vietnamese cultural identity to the world , while also providing domestic audiences with the opportunity to access diverse cinema works from many different cultures.

“The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will continue to accompany and support the Da Nang Asian Film Festival to develop further, worthy of the expectations of professionals and the public who love the seventh art,” Deputy Minister Ta Quang Dong affirmed.

Meanwhile, Ms. Nguyen Thi Anh Thi, Vice Chairwoman of the People's Committee of Da Nang City, emphasized that the Film Festival is a testament to the efforts of the government and people of Da Nang City. This is not only an artistic playground but also a solid bridge between Vietnam and the world, spreading the cultural values and beautiful images of Da Nang to international friends.

Wings for young cinema dreams

At this festival, for the first time, the DANAFF Talents program - Potential Cinema Talents was introduced as a key part to discover, train and support young filmmaking talents from Vietnam and the Asian region. DANAFF Talents is a development step from the "Talent Incubation" class held in the previous two festivals.

This year, the program has been expanded in both content and form with 3 main activities: Acting Workshop, Master Class for young filmmakers, and especially the Project Incubator - a new initiative implemented for the first time at a Film Festival in Vietnam.

Fourteen potential film projects have been selected to participate, divided into two categories: Asian art films and Vietnamese films of various genres. Notable names such as Yanqi Chen (China), Noor Imran Mithu (Bangladesh), Dianna Cam Van Nguyen (Czech overseas Vietnamese), Patiparn Boontarig (Thailand), or Dam Quang Trung (Vietnam) bring unique perspectives, reflecting the diversity in style and theme of regional cinema.

The projects will receive professional support from a team of advisors who are internationally renowned filmmakers. Producer Tran Thi Bich Ngoc, in charge of the program, emphasized: “The projects will be guided by international experts from content to development methods suitable for the market. This is not only a learning opportunity but also a practical stepping stone to enter the professional film industry.”

The quality and reputation of the program is further enhanced with the participation of leading experts such as Christian Jeune (Vice President of Cannes Film Festival), Kim Min Young (producer of the film Tomb Raider) and Isabelle Glachant (producer of director Vuong Tieu Soai)...

Beyond training, the Project Incubator also awards valuable international prizes to encourage long-term development. The best project in the Asian art film category will receive 8,000 EUR from the French National Cinema Center (CNC) and 3 months of intensive development support from the mylab program - an initiative to mentor independent projects in Southeast Asia. At the same time, the Motion Picture Association of America (MPA) also awarded 5,000 USD to the most outstanding Vietnamese film project.

The above activities have created a space that is both academic and practical, where young cinematic dreams are nurtured with knowledge, connections and professional development opportunities. This is a sustainable foundation to contribute to the formation of a new generation of filmmakers - confident, creative and ready for international integration.

MAI AN

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/lien-hoan-phim-chau-a-da-nang-dua-dien-anh-viet-nam-vuon-tam-quoc-te-post798168.html