The first-ever Da Nang Asian Film Festival (DANAFF) promises to create a new international event brand for the city in the field of cinema, thereby affirming the city's position as Asia's Leading Festival and Event Destination, municipal People’s Committee Vice Chairwoman Ngo Thi Kim Yen said at a press conference held in Ha Noi on Wednesday.

Vice Chairwoman of the Da Nang People's Committee Ngo Thi Kim Yen speaking at the press conference on Wednesday

Vice Chairwoman Yen revealed that the forthcoming festival will honour excellent cinematographic works rich in human values and new discoveries. Its aim is to encourage the new Vietnamese and Asian cinema talents and introduce to the public the new, high-value works in content and art of Asian and Vietnamese films and selected films of world cinema.

Mrs. Yen said that the highlight of the festival was the competition of films in two categories: Asian Film Awards, and Vietnamese Film Awards, which is appraised, selected, and honoured by experts in the field of Vietnamese and international cinema.

“We hope that DANAFF will be a bridge and provide the good opportunity for people working in the art industry in general and the film industry in particular to exchange professional experience, and arouse new ideas, thereby greatly contributing to the development of cinema in Da Nang and Viet Nam as a whole” the municipal official added.

DANAFF will take place in Da Nang from May 9 to 13 at different locations to showcase best domestic and international films. It is jointly organised by the Viet Nam Film Development Association (VFDA), the Da Nang People's Committee along with other domestic and foreign partners.

Vice Chairwoman of the Da Nang People's Committee Ngo Thi Kim Yen (left) and President of the Viet Nam Association of Film Promotion and Development Ngo Phuong Lan (right) answered questions raised by journalists and reporters about the organisation of the upcoming DANAFF at the press conference on Wednesday. Photo: PV

The 5-day event will feature many outstanding events, including the opening, and closing and awards ceremonies which will be broadcast live on VTV and DRT channels and other TV stations.

Specifically, the opening ceremony will take ‘Bringing Da Nang to Asia, and bringing Asia to Da Nang’ as its theme. All performances will focus on introducing the culture of the city, the friendliness of local people, and the special characteristics of Asian cinema.

The closing and awards ceremony will promote the spirit of ‘Viet Nam integration’ and advertise the image of a dynamic and bustling Viet Nam through the lens of cinema in a bid to introduce the development of the country with many inviting destinations to international friends.

In addition, 86 film screenings and the launch of film crews will be held at the Le Do, CGV and Galaxy cinemas. There will be outdoor film screenings at the APEC Sculpture Garden, and an exchange programme between famous artists and the audience.

Within the framework of the film festival, there will be seminars on building a favorable film-making environment in Da Nang and Japanese cinema - successful experience and direction of production cooperation with Viet Nam; ‘Talent Incubator’ workshop; two basic and advanced acting classes; and a sightseeing tour around the city.

It is expected that 26 Vietnamese films and 10 Asian - Pacific films will compete in the festival. The total prize for the film categories is over VND550 million.

As for the category of Asian Film Awards, the grand award for the best movie will be valued at US$5,000 (equivalent to VND115 million). In addition, there will be a special jury prize of US$3,000 (VND69 million), an US$2,000 (VND46 million) award for best director, the US$2,000 best actor award, the US$2,000 best actress award, and the US$2,000 best screenplay award.

In the category of Vietnamese Film Awards, the grand prize for best film will be VND70 million, the special jury prize VND40 million, the Best Director Award VND20 million, the Best Actor Award VND20 million, the Best Actress Award VND20 million, and the Best Screenplay Award VND20 million.

Reporting by XUAN DUNG - Translating by M.DUNG