With less than a month left, the 2^nd Da Nang Asian Film Festival (DANAFF II) will take place in July with many large-scale, professional, and classy activities of continental stature. At the present, the city’s administration and related units are urgently implementing tasks to create an impressive and memorable cinematic banquet in the hearts of Da Nang people and international friends.

An art performance at the closing ceremony of the first Da Nang Asian Film Festival in 2023. Photo: X.D

DANAFF is directed by the Da Nang People's Committee and jointly implemented by the Viet Nam Film Development Association (VFDA) and relevant agencies. In its first edition, DANAFF was very successful, attracting the participation of nearly 800 delegates and guests; 46 films from 18 countries and territories; tens of thousands of spectators.

This year, instead of being held in May like last year, DANAFF II is scheduled to take place in from July 2 to 6 to avoid scheduling conflicts with some other international film festivals.

To date, the organising committee has selected 63 films competing at this film festival, finalising the programme framework and side activities.

In particular, the programme framework will comprises of opening, closing and awards ceremonies broadcast live on Viet Nam Television Station (VTV) and relayed by Da Nang TV News and other television stations across Viet Nam.

Along with that, there will be Asian and Vietnamese film competition programmes with valuable prizes; Today’s Vietnamese Cinema programme with carefully-selected, newly-produced Vietnamese films; the French cinema spotlight programme, outdoor movie screenings and the introduction of films made by famous international guests.

According to Ms Ngo Phuong Lan, President of VFDA, following the success of the first organisation, DANAFF II shows the careful and close coordination between related units. Promotion activities for the sake of DANAFF II have been conducted at large, prestigious film festivals and on social networks, especially TikTok. The quality of films attending this festival is also more demanding, as evidenced by the juries consisting of world-famous experts and directors.

DANAFF II has 3 jury panels: Asian Film Jury, Viet Nam Film Jury and the Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema (NETPAC) Jury. Each jury includes famous Vietnamese and international experts, stars and filmmakers.

Outstandingly, two talented Chinese directors will serve as the Chairmen of the juries for the Vietnamese and Asian film competition categories respectively, along with many famous directors and film producers at home and abroad.

The movie ‘Nha Ba Nu’ (The House of No Man) won the Best Film award in the Vietnamese film category at the first Da Nang Asian Film Festival. Photo: X.D

In addition, DANAFF II will treat fans with many highly specialised seminars and discussions, such as ‘French cinema with its relationship with Vietnamese cinema’, ‘Film production cooperation - international experience and development solutions’, ‘Director Dang Nhat Minh's creative style’, ‘Sharing experiences in connecting coastal film festivals".

In addition, within the framework of this film festival, there will also be a workshop ‘Nurturing talent’, attracting the participation of more than 400 young people passionate about acting across the country.

In addition to the factors related to expertise, programme framework, and accompanying activities mentioned above, DANAFF II has many notable new points.

Deputy Director of the Da Nang Department of Culture and Sports Ha Vy said that, for the first time in Viet nam, DANAFF II will award the Cinema Achievement Award to an excellent filmmaker with many contributions to cinema. This award will be maintained annually.

One of the notable points of DANAFF II is that, in addition to screening movies at three theaters Le Do, Galaxy and CGV, there will be two additional outdoor screening locations on Nhu Nguyet Street on July 3 and 4 respectively and in front of the Lien Chieu District Administrative Center on July 5.

DANAFF II will introduce cinema lovers to 4 films about Da Nang, 7 films by director and People's Artist Dang Nhat Minh and 10 Vietnamese films competing in this festival.

In particular, the Vietnamese film category will feature many films that have excited the box office in recent times such as ‘Peach Blossom, Pho and Piano’, ‘Mai’, ‘Lat Mat 7 (‘Face Off 7- One Wish).

In the Asian film category, there will be one Vietnamese representative namely the movie ‘Ben trong vo ken vang’ (Inside the Golden Cocoon) by talented young director Pham Thien An who won the “Golden Lens” Award at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival. It is hoped that a majestic and unique cinematic party will be promised.

According to Vice Chairman of the Da Nang People's Committee Tran Chi Cuong, DANAFF II, themed ‘Asia's Bridge’, is being organised with the desire to maintain and create more event brands for Da Nang, affirming its position as a ‘Asia's Leading Festival and Event Destination’.

DANAFF is an international event in the field of cinema, creating opportunities for exchange, promotion and connection in the future for the development of Vietnamese cinema, and Da Nang in particular.

Besides the ongoing Da Nang International Fireworks Festival, DANAFF is identified as one of the key cultural events of Da Nang in 2024. At the same time, it is a branded event, positively contributing to the city's cultural, economic and social development.

“Da Nang is not only a beautiful land in the eyes of the local people and tourists, but it will be a fertile land for cinema- the Seventh Art - to create attractive new cinematic works with high quality, surpassing the traditional borders between countries and continents.”, said Vice Chairman Cuong.

Reporting by XUAN DUNG - Translating by A.THU