On the afternoon of June 27, in the luxurious space of Furama Resort Danang, a press conference took place with the presence of a large number of filmmakers, artists, and domestic and international press. This was the official announcement of the 4th Da Nang Asian Film Festival (DANAFF IV) – but more than just an event announcement, it was also an occasion for Dr. Ngo Phuong Lan, Chairperson of the Vietnam Film Development Association (VFDA), co-head of the organizing committee, and Film Festival Director, to look back on DANAFF’s four-year journey – from a young cinematic event to an annual rendezvous highly anticipated by Asian filmmakers.

Ngo Phuong Lan (right) and Ms. Nguyen Thi Anh Thi chairing the press conference to announce DANAFF IV on the afternoon of June 27 at Furama Resort Danang.

One film festival, four times “growing up”

If DANAFF were imagined as a growing body, then each organizing season is a time when the festival “grows” a new pillar, according to Dr. Ngo Phuong Lan.

It all started in May 2023, when DANAFF I debuted with an almost singular focus: organizing screenings and awarding outstanding Asian and Vietnamese films. It was a first step, modest but necessary, to confirm that a film festival could exist and be recognized.

By DANAFF II in 2024, the organizing committee realized one thing: honoring new films was not enough; cinema also needed to be looked back upon from the depth of its history. The second pillar – honoring cinematic heritage – was born from there.

A year later, DANAFF III (2025) posed another question: who will make the films of tomorrow? The answer was DANAFF Talents – the third pillar, which Ms. Ngo Phuong Lan called a “very important” category – an incubator where young film projects are connected with producers, investors, and nurtured to go further.

And this year, with DANAFF IV, the film festival completes the final puzzle piece: the connection pillar, expanding the film market – manifested through a new series of activities called DANAFF Industry Days, where Vietnamese, Asian, and global filmmakers have the opportunity to sit down together, not only to watch films but to make films, sell films, and invest in films.

The DANAFF IV press conference attracted a large number of domestic and international filmmakers, artists, and press

Four seasons, four pillars – and according to Ms. Lan, those are the first four bricks of something much bigger than a film festival: a cinematic ecosystem for Vietnam.

When cinema returns to find its own memories

One of the most mentioned highlights at the press conference was the American Cinema Spotlight program – where 13 films were selected to retell the most important milestones of the world’s leading influential cinema. Paired with this program is the special topic “The Face of Vietnamese Cinema through 40 Years of Doi Moi”, introducing 17 typical films – as a way for DANAFF to look back at itself, placing Vietnamese cinema alongside world cinema for reflection.

Also at the press conference, a name was called that moved many people in the film industry: Bill Mechanic – former Chairman and CEO of Fox Filmed Entertainment (20th Century Fox), the man behind films that have become cinematic memories for many generations such as Titanic, Independence Day, Fight Club, and Hacksaw Ridge – will be the recipient of the Film Achievement Award of DANAFF IV, recognizing more than four decades of his dedication and contribution to the global film industry.

An incubator for those who will make tomorrow’s films

If one pillar had to be chosen that Dr. Ngo Phuong Lan dedicated the most passion to when speaking at the press conference, it would probably be DANAFF Talents. She did not hide her pride when sharing that the project selection for this incubator is always carefully considered by the organizing committee – because behind each selected project is a real opportunity for a young filmmaker.

The figures of DANAFF Talents 2026 somewhat show that attraction: 89 projects submitted to the Script Lab category, with only 8 selected to move forward; 102 projects competing in the Art-house Projects category, and also only 10 projects entering the official round. A strict selection rate – but according to Ms. Lan, it is precisely that strictness that makes this “incubator” valuable.

A question that Ms. Ngo Phuong Lan is still concerned about

Not everything she shared at the press conference was good news. There was a concern that Dr. Ngo Phuong Lan frankly raised: while many other international film festivals already have a very clear playground for art films, in Vietnam, public and mainstream film festivals are still quite few, without much “room to perform” for development.

Ngo Phuong Lan, Chairperson of the Vietnam Film Development Association, sharing at DANAFF IV. According to her, the core thing that each filmmaker needs to aim for is humanity and the Vietnamese cultural identity in each work.

For her, the core thing that every Vietnamese filmmaker needs to aim for is not chasing trends, but keeping humanity and Vietnamese cultural identity in each story they tell. She hopes that filmmakers will engage in more styles – from art films, historical films to real-life films – so that the Vietnamese identity can be reflected more sharply, not only to domestic audiences but also to the international public.

The ultimate destination: a cinematic ecosystem, starting from Da Nang

Closing her shared remarks, Dr. Ngo Phuong Lan returned to what she considers DANAFF’s consistent goal: building a cinematic ecosystem in Vietnam, starting from Da Nang to create a resonance for the whole region. She also expressed her wish that DANAFF will not only be an event for industry professionals but will truly become a cultural product for public utility – where audiences and people of Da Nang can enjoy the values that cinema brings, and through that, the city’s culture and tourism also have an additional bridge to connect with each other.

And a thank you to the “home” of DANAFF

Before concluding, Ms. Ngo Phuong Lan also did not forget to mention Furama Resort Danang – where the press conference took place, and also the place that has accompanied DANAFF since the very first days.

Furama – Ariyana Danang International Tourism Complex – the venue that has hosted the opening press conferences for all 4 seasons of DANAFF, from DANAFF I (2023) to DANAFF IV (2026)

Few people notice that the Furama International Convention Centre, belonging to the Furama – Ariyana Danang International Tourism Complex, is exactly the venue that hosted the opening press conferences for all four seasons of the festival – from DANAFF I (2023) to DANAFF IV (2026), and was also the venue that opened the DANAFF Talents 2026 program just one

The 4th Da Nang Asian Film Festival – DANAFF IV 2026

Time: June 28 – July 04, 2026

Opening Ceremony: Evening of June 28, 2026, Ariyana International Convention Centre Danang

Closing & Award Ceremony: Evening of July 04, 2026, Ariyana International Convention Centre Danang

🤝 Main activities: Film screenings, competitions, seminars, workshops, masterclasses, Script Lab, DANAFF Industry Days, artist exchanges, and film networking activities

______o0o______

𝐀𝐫𝐢𝐲𝐚𝐧𝐚 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐞 𝐃𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐠 – Vietnam’s Leading Events Destination
Zalo: https://bit.ly/Ariyana_Zalo_Official_Account
𝐀: 107 Vo Nguyen Giap, Ngu Hanh Son Ward, Danang.
𝐓: (+84)236 651 8888
𝐄: events@ariyanacentre.com
𝐖: www.ariyanacentre.com

#AriyanaConventionCentre #Ariyana #MICE #Ariyanadanang #Ariyana #enjoydanang #MICE #MICEExpo #virtualtour #360ACC #360tour #OnetouchtoAriyana #workinganniversary#bestplacetowork