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DNO - The 4th Da Nang Asian Film Festival (DANAFF IV) is further cementing its position as an annual international film event. Building on the success of previous editions, this year’s festival introduces several major new programmes that reinforce its growing reputation.
As Vietnam’s only annual international film festival, DANAFF is emerging as one of Asia’s promising cinematic events, enhancing Da Nang’s profile on the global cultural map and attracting increasing attention from the international film industry.
Growing in stature
DANAFF III in 2025 marked a major step forward, screening more than 100 films across nearly 200 screenings, twice as many as the previous year- and welcoming, for the first time, participation from UNESCO, France’s National Centre for Cinema (CNC), and the Motion Picture Association (MPA).
The festival also introduced the Asian Cinema Panorama and Project Incubator, expanding its role from film exhibition to talent development. One project from the inaugural incubator, "Thank You for Staying Awake with Me", went on to become Vietnam’s highest-grossing musical film.
Another highlight was a keynote by Vietnamese-American filmmaker Tony Bui, who stressed the importance of training, mentorship and institutional support in nurturing filmmakers. Inspired by this vision, DANAFF IV has launched Script Lab, an intensive screenwriting workshop developed in collaboration with Columbia University.
Raising the bar
DANAFF IV has replaced its previous Multi-Genre Film category with Script Lab, selecting eight feature film projects for intensive screenplay development with international mentors.
The initiative reflects the festival’s ambition to raise the quality of Vietnamese cinema while supporting projects with strong artistic, cultural and humanistic value. It also aligns with the Vietnam Cinema Department’s call for films that authentically portray contemporary Vietnamese society.
DANAFF IV also expands industry collaboration through DANAFF Industry Days, bringing together more than 10 Vietnamese film studios and 20 international buyers to foster business partnerships and strengthen Vietnam’s film industry and cultural exports.
Cultivating the love of cinema
According to Hoang Cam Giang, a DANAFF IV jury member, developing audiences with an appreciation for quality cinema is essential to nurturing future filmmakers.
Reflecting this vision, DANAFF IV introduces DANAFF's Cinephiles, a programme developed with the University of Science and Education, The University of Da Nang and other institutions to bring art cinema into university classrooms and foster cinematic literacy among students.
The festival also explores emerging industry issues through discussions on artificial intelligence, digital technology and copyright protection.
Meanwhile, the Cinema Spotlight programme celebrates Hollywood with 13 American films spanning nearly a century, offering audiences a rare opportunity to experience the evolution of cinematic history on the big screen.
With the theme "Bridging Asia to the World", the 4th Da Nang Asian Film Festival (DANAFF IV) will take place from June 28 to July 4 and is expected to be its largest edition yet.
The festival will bring together more than 1,000 delegates, screen over 100 films in nearly 200 screenings, and host conferences, professional workshops, industry networking events, and public activities.
The programme features the Asian Films Competition, Vietnamese Films Competition, Vietnamese Cinema Today, Panorama of Asian Cinema, American Cinema Highlights, and the thematic programme "Vietnamese Cinema: 40 Years of Renovation (Doi Moi)", alongside seminars on cinema, artificial intelligence, digital technology, and intellectual property protection.
