The event welcomed a large gathering of artists, actors, filmmakers, and cinema administrators from Vietnam and around the world.

DANAFF 2025 is directed by the Da Nang People's Committee and co-organized by the city's Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism in collaboration with the Vietnam Association for the Promotion and Development of Cinema (VFDA). The festival runs from June 29 to July 5 in Da Nang.

Among the distinguished attendees were Professor Nguyen Xuan Thang, Politburo member and President of the Central Theoretical Council; Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Van Hung; and many high-ranking leaders from central government agencies.

From the international community, UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay led a delegation of ambassadors and diplomats in attendance.

Local leaders included Nguyen Van Quang, Party Secretary of Da Nang; Le Trung Chinh, Chairman of the Da Nang People's Committee; and representatives from various city departments and organizations.

In his address, Professor Nguyen Xuan Thang expressed his deep impression at how DANAFF has grown more professional and comprehensive with each edition, with increasingly diverse content, broader scale, expanded awards categories, and enhanced artistic value.

He highlighted the festival's effective socialized organizational model, which has successfully mobilized societal resources and connected creators, producers, regulators, and enterprises to expand Vietnam’s cultural and creative space. He emphasized that this aligns with strategic directives from the Party.

Professor Thang urged the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, related agencies, academic institutions, and professional associations like VFDA to continue strengthening research capacity and strategic thinking to shape a modern, humane, internationally integrated Vietnamese cinema rich in national identity.

He asserted that DANAFF should be positioned as a prestigious international film festival in the Asia-Pacific region, elevating Vietnam’s cultural and creative status globally, and supporting Da Nang’s bid to become a UNESCO Creative City in the near future.

Chairman Le Trung Chinh welcomed the third edition of DANAFF as a reaffirmation of Da Nang’s vision to become Vietnam’s cultural and cinematic innovation hub. He noted that cinema is not just art, but also a driver of economic growth, a promotional tool for the city’s image, a bridge between people, and a platform for nurturing truth, goodness, and beauty.

He affirmed Da Nang’s pride in hosting talented artists and high-quality works of art from across Asia, and committed to continued investment and support to help DANAFF develop sustainably, professionally, and with its own unique identity.

UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay commended the festival’s expanded scope, content, and duration in its third edition. She emphasized that the event amplifies international recognition of Vietnamese and Asian cinema - from China and Kyrgyzstan to Japan, India, and South Korea - and highlighted the need for diverse global voices.

She praised Vietnam, and especially Da Nang, as a place where ideas and creativity converge; where young innovation meets traditional craftsmanship and generational wisdom. Just a few kilometers away lies Hoi An, a UNESCO World Heritage site and a member of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network.

"Here, UNESCO truly feels the warmth and sincerity of a family," Azoulay concluded.

During the ceremony, the festival organizers honored legendary South Korean director Im Kwon Taek with a Lifetime Achievement Award. Due to health reasons, the director was unable to attend in person.

The festival’s mission is to spotlight outstanding cinematic works with rich humanistic value, innovative storytelling, and unique artistic expression; to connect and nurture emerging talent in Vietnam and the Asia-Pacific region; to widely showcase high-value films from Asia and Vietnam; and to promote Da Nang as a leading center of creativity, culture, and tourism in the region.

The opening night featured a performance of the traditional Bai Choi art form blended with the patriotic anthem “Vietnam, my homeland” by composer Do Nhuan, performed by a symphony orchestra - a vibrant cultural greeting from the Quang Nam - Da Nang region.

This year, the festival has expanded both in scale and content, extending from 5 to 7 days, with 100 films selected for screening (compared to 46 in its first edition and 63 in its second), and 200 total screenings (double the previous year).

For the first time, the festival introduced “DANAFF Talents” – a training and networking program for young cinematic talents. It includes skill development sessions and project incubators, such as “Nurturing Talents” for actors and “Project Garden” for emerging filmmakers.

The best Asian art film project will receive an €8,000 prize from France’s CNC (National Center for Cinema and the Moving Image), along with a three-month development mentorship from MyLab - a Southeast Asian independent film incubator. The Motion Picture Association (MPA) will also award $5,000 to the best Vietnamese film project across all genres.

This year’s festival features diverse programs, including “Asian Cinema Panorama” with the Asian Film Critics Award, “Half a Century of Vietnamese War Films,” and panel discussions on “The legacy of Vietnamese war cinema since reunification” and “Korean Cinema: Lessons in international success and industrial development.”

The "Vietnamese Cinema Today" program presents 18 newly produced Vietnamese films. The “Korean Cinema Spotlight” will feature screenings, artist talks, and workshops.

Two main competition categories include 14 Asian films and 12 Vietnamese films.

PV