The Vietnam Film Development Association (VFDA), in partnership with the Da Nang People’s Committee and other local authorities, hosted a seminar in Busan, South Korea on Sunday to showcase Vietnam’s filmmaking potential and promote the Da Nang Asian Film Festival (DANAFF). The event was part of the 29th Busan International Film Festival (BIFF), which runs from October 2 to 11 and presents 225 films from over 63 countries.

Busan, known as a global film hub with natural features similar to Da Nang, a coastal city in central Vietnam, has provided valuable insights for enhancing DANAFF and Vietnam’s film industry.

Seminar participants included representatives from Da Nang, Ninh Binh Province, and Phu Yen Province, along with prominent Vietnamese and South Korean filmmakers.

Speaking at the event, Nguyen Thi Anh Thi, vice-chairwoman of the Da Nang People’s Committee, unveiled plans for the third DANAFF edition, which is set to take place in the coastal from June 29 to July 5, 2025.

Launched in 2023, DANAFF has gradually gained recognition among Asian producers, featuring numerous cinematic works in its first two editions.

Thi expressed her hope for DANAFF to become a signature event for the city, alongside the Da Nang International Fireworks Festival, taking place annually during June and July.

This ambition is commensurate with Da Nang’s vision of becoming a 'city of events and festivals.'

DANAFF aims to foster collaboration among filmmakers, directors, actors, and audiences, serving as a platform to exchange ideas and promote Da Nang’s cultural and cinematic industries while seeking to establish stronger connections with the Asian and global film markets.

Thi also highlighted Da Nang’s potential as a filming destination, with its natural beauty spots, including the Marble Mountains, stunning beaches, and Ba Na Hills, which all make it an ideal setting for both domestic and international film projects.

Da Nang has introduced a series of supportive measures, such as simplifying administrative processes, providing financial aid, waiving admission tourist attractions, and offering discounts on accommodations and dining for film crews.

These efforts have been actively promoted across multimedia channels to attract filmmakers and producers to the city.

Looking ahead, Da Nang plans to introduce further policies, fostering partnerships with local businesses, particularly in hospitality and tourism, to create mutually beneficial opportunities and offer additional incentives to film producers.

The city is in the process of establishing a film studio as part of its long-term development strategy, which extends through 2050.

The seminar also spotlighted the filmmaking environments in other Vietnamese localities, such as Phu Yen Province, Ninh Binh Province, and Quang Ninh Province, while addressing the challenges these regions face as they strive to develop as filmmaking destinations.

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