Danang Asian Film Festival is an opportunity to meet and be happy

The Korean film crew "Youth" interacts with Da Nang audiences. (Photo: ANH VU)

Film Festival of Happy “Firsts”

Among the films competing, there are many films participating in a film festival in Vietnam for the first time, although they have participated and won awards at several international film festivals. This has brought happiness and pride to the film crews. “Inside the Golden Cocoon” is one of them.

Highly appreciated before the festival, this is the first time "Inside the Golden Cocoon" has competed at a domestic film festival, in the Asian Film category. For the members of the film crew, in addition to joy and happiness, there is also a surge of national pride. The two actors Le Phong Vu and Truc Quynh shared their thoughts when attending DANAFF 2024.

Phong Vu and Truc Quynh attended the opening night of the Film Festival.

Truc Quynh said that she had followed the film crew to many film festivals around the world , including grand and prestigious film festivals, but adding up all the emotions, they could not compare to attending a film festival in Vietnam. The happiness at international film festivals is great, but not obvious. But here, in their own homeland, being recognized and welcomed by the audience, this brought great emotion to the members of the film crew.

Le Phong Vu also shared the same feeling when “Inside the Golden Cocoon” returned to his homeland, competed for awards and was screened in his homeland. “The film crew traveled to many places and received very good responses, but only when in Vietnam, when the film was shown in theaters, and in contact with Vietnamese audiences, did we have the opportunity to exchange and draw experiences for the next projects.

The crew of "Soul Eater" at the Film Festival.

As for the crew of “Soul Eater”, being present at the Vietnam Film Awards was a big surprise. “Normally, we still classify horror films as commercial films and very few horror films are invited to compete at film festivals. The DANAFF 2024 Organizing Committee invited us and this was a big surprise, because for the first time our horror film was presented at an international film festival. This is an extremely great happiness for us” – director Tran Huu Tan shared.

The crew of "Flip Side 7: A Wish".

The members of “Flip Side 7: A Wish” also shared the same feelings as “Soul Eater” when it first appeared at the Da Nang Asian Film Festival as a film competing for the Vietnam Film Award. Actress Tin Nguyen said that when she first came to DANAFF 2024, she felt immature and very lucky to have the opportunity to be here, to meet foreign actors, domestic actors, and big names that she used to idolize. “I feel like I’m dreaming,” said Tin Nguyen.

Actress Tram Anh also shared that this is the happiest experience of her life and she is proud that Vietnam also has many diverse types of films to introduce to domestic and international audiences.

Actor Tran Kim Hai, who participated in both parts of “Lat Mat” 6 and 7, said that this was his first time attending a film festival and he was very excited and happy to broaden his horizons and learn many new things.

Actor Doan Quoc Dam with Da Nang audience.

As for Doan Quoc Dam, participating in the Film Festival with his first feature film “Dao, Pho and Piano”, the main purpose is “to have fun, meet colleagues older, the same age, younger, hug each other, ask each other what interesting things happened in the past year”. Doan Quoc Dam said that he does not care too much about the issue of competing for awards. “For me, every role requires 100% dedication, every role is a difficult role that requires me to think deeply, find a different way to express. And when I finish the role, I completely “transform” to prepare mentally for a new role. That is what is important to me” – he shared.

Beautiful impressions of the coastal city of Da Nang and DANAFF 2024

Among the foreign films screened at the Da Nang Asian Film Festival, “Muon vi nhan gian” by director Tran Anh Hung attracted the attention of a large audience, especially young audiences. Producer and art designer Tran Nu Yen Khe this time took on the role of representing the film crew at the meetings with the audience and the press, in addition to her role as a member of the jury for the Asian film category.

For Tran Nu Yen Khe, this presence in Da Nang has a special meaning for her. “Tran Anh Hung and I have traveled around the world for 10 months to promote and introduce 'Muon vi nhan gian', and Da Nang is the final destination on this journey. Da Nang is my hometown, and I am very happy to be here” – Tran Nu Yen Khe shared.

Tran Nu Yen Khe (far left) with members of the jury.

Speaking about the Da Nang Asian Film Festival, producer Tran Nu Yen Khe commented that the quality of the films in the selection program is very good. She expressed her hope that the Film Festival will continue to select good films, “because film festivals can only develop when there are good films.”

The coastal city of Da Nang and DANAFF 2024 also left beautiful impressions on international filmmakers and artists.

Jeon So Min, the actress of the Korean film “Tuoi Thanh Xuan” competing in the Asian Film category, said that she had heard a lot about Da Nang since she was in Korea, but unfortunately her time at the Film Festival was too short, not enough to experience the whole city. However, the actress also had time to enjoy Vietnamese pancakes, bread, pho, and really liked coriander, as well as walking and admiring the city's beautiful coastline. Jeon So Min said, Later when I have time, I will bring my parents here to play, to learn more about Da Nang.

Director Joselito Altarejos, of the film “Guardian of Honor,” said that 12 years ago he had thought about coming to Vietnam, and had even booked a plane ticket but could not come. He also shared that he knew that the Da Nang Asian Film Festival was a new film festival, with many diverse film genres participating, both art films and popular films. The film festival also attracted many strong films, so he wanted to participate in the competition to have the opportunity to compete with those films. “Our participation will also bring us fame if we compete with such strong films,” the director shared.

Director Joselito Altarejos expressed that he really likes Vietnamese cuisine , with all the ingredients of vegetables, starch, fish and meat, etc., and at a cheap price. “When I come to any city, I don’t just come as a tourist but also want to see how the people live. I find that life in Da Nang is very stable, the people are comfortable and friendly,” the director said.

The film “The Honor Guard” will be shown in theaters in Da Nang on July 5 and the director will also go to the theaters to see how the audience reacts to a film with a rather thorny topic: domestic violence.

“A Strange Boy” – a representative of Australian cinema is also a competing film at the Film Festival, and the film has the special presence of famous actress Cate Blanchett. Director Warwick Thornton said that he chose a new film festival like Da Nang, because he wanted to go to new places, look for new faces and want to help new filmmakers.

Director Warwick Thornton.

“Asia is a new place, with new voices and a huge market. If you want to participate in this market, you need to come and listen to the voices here and understand the market here. One thing that American filmmakers can do is not just push their films, their filmmaking style to Vietnam, but come to film festivals like DANAFF and see how films are made here, listen to the voices here. Maybe they will change the way they make films,” he said.

As the first annual film festival in Vietnam, the Da Nang Asian Film Festival has left a good impression in both editions, not only with its attractive, interesting and high-quality activities, but also with its openness and acceptance of many film genres and types with different styles and storytelling methods from all over Vietnam and Asia, as well as with the warm welcome from this coastal city.