Vietnamese Cinema and DANAFF IV: Elevating the Aspiration to Go "From Asia to the World

As the Da Nang Asian Film Festival enters its fourth year, from June 28 to July 4, the public and film enthusiasts can observe a notable shift in the festival's theme. While DANAFF previously introduced itself as an "Asian Bridge," this year, a new message is confidently proclaimed: "A Bridge from Asia to the World." This is not merely a change in wording, but a sign of a maturing journey. From its position of seeking regional connections, DANAFF is now aiming to serve as a wider gateway, where Vietnamese and Asian cinema can engage in a direct dialogue with the world using their own unique voices.

Dr. Ngo Phuong Lan, the "captain" of DANAFF and Chairwoman of the Vietnam Cinema Development Promotion Association, shared that the scale of this year's festival is significantly larger than in previous years: more participating films, more intense competition categories, and a greater gathering of delegates, stars, and prominent domestic and international filmmakers. This growth was acknowledged and highly praised by Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Ta Quang Dong. Amidst a world constantly shifting under the impact of AI technology, high-level meeting spaces like DANAFF IV serve as a form of national "soft power," where we use culture to dialogue with the world and art to affirm the Vietnamese identity.

A notable program at the film festival is the Script Lab, which kicks off early on June 26. Recognizing screenwriting as the "Achilles' heel" of domestic cinema, this year's lab has selected 8 outstanding projects to be analyzed and upgraded under the guidance of Professor Jack Lechner (Chair of the Film Program at Columbia University), director Tony Bui, and director Anthony Chen (winner of the Camera d'Or at Cannes). Alongside this, the "Talent Incubation" workshop and Master Classes on acting led by Dr. Lydia Park and director Rob Marchand will "hone" nearly 40 young talents, promising to establish international professional standards.

Furthermore, for the first time, the festival will launch the DANAFF Industry Days space, with consulting from French expert Jeremy Segay, bringing together over 20 international film studios and 10 major domestic studios with the goal of commercial outreach and bringing Vietnamese films to the global market. Additionally, the "DANAFF’s Cinephiles" space, initiated by director Phan Dang Di in collaboration with universities in Da Nang, also appears at the festival, aiming to build a community of young audiences.

Therefore, when DANAFF IV chose the theme "A Bridge from Asia to the World," it was not just the aspiration of a single film festival, but the aspiration of Vietnamese filmmakers and the Da Nang city government in their determination to gradually elevate domestic cinema to the continental and global stage. A four-year journey is not long compared to prestigious film festivals around the world, but every step of DANAFF has shown a serious and persistent direction: using cinema as a bridge, culture as soft power, and dialogue and creativity as the path to integration.

And in these summer days by the Han River, as the festival lights shine bright once again, the journey of Vietnamese cinema and a cinematic city begins with confidence and steady steps.