The Second Da Nang Asian Film Festival – DANAFF II has officially ended, Da Nang audiences have had a week of “eating and sleeping” non-stop with cinema, and then come to the final stage, the Closing Night with the most worthy awards being given.
Attending the Closing and Awarding Ceremony of the Second Da Nang Asian Film Festival at the Ariyana Convention Palace, on behalf of Da Nang leaders, there was the participation of Mr. Nguyen Dinh Vinh – Standing Deputy Secretary of the Da Nang City Party Committee, Mr. Le Trung Chinh – Deputy Secretary of the City Party Committee, Chairman of the Da Nang City People’s Committee; along with leaders, former leaders of ministries, departments, branches, associations, and central organizations.
Representing the Vietnam Film Promotion Association, was the presence of Dr. Ngo Phuong Lan – President of the Vietnam Film Promotion Association, Director of the Da Nang Asian Film Festival.
“Will DANAFF be the bridge connecting Vietnam, Da Nang with Asia and the world?”
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the Closing Ceremony and Award Ceremony of the Second Da Nang Asian Film Festival, Mr. Tran Chi Cuong, Vice Chairman of the Da Nang People’s Committee, expressed his gratitude:
“Da Nang City would like to express our gratitude for the attention and direction of the Government, Central Ministries and Branches; the responsible organization and coordination of the Vietnam Cinema Promotion Association with the Department of Culture and Sports and the city’s departments and branches; the members of the Jury, filmmakers, the companionship of artists, experts, researchers, sponsors, press agencies, volunteers and especially would like to express our gratitude for the warm welcome of the Da Nang audience to the Film Festival event.
At this moment, when DANAFF II is gradually completing its mission, we affirm our trust in the city’s choice and direction in developing cinema into an important cultural industry, contributing positively to the cultural, economic and social development of Da Nang. At the same time, DANAFF II is also expected to become one of the most attractive and effective ways to introduce national identity, promote the image of a youthful and dynamic Da Nang; a bridge connecting Vietnam, Da Nang with Asia and the world.
“Let’s continue to put our trust in DANAFF!”
That is what Dr. Ngo Phuong Lan – President of the Vietnam Association for the Promotion of Cinema Development, Director of the Da Nang Asian Film Festival said in her speech:
“On behalf of the Vietnam Association for the Promotion of Cinema Development – the co-organizer of DANAFF II – I would like to express my sincere thanks to the leaders of the Party and State; representatives of the leaders of the Central Committees, Ministries and Branches; the City Party Committee, People’s Council, People’s Committee of Da Nang City and leaders of several provinces and cities; the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Vietnam Television; Ambassadors and representatives of international agencies and organizations in Vietnam; the Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema (NETPAC); the American Cinema Association; press agencies, Diamond, Gold, Silver, Bronze sponsors and units accompanying the Festival, international guests and delegates, especially the Jury, film colleagues and Da Nang audiences who have enthusiastically supported and given their precious affection to the Second Da Nang Asian Film Festival.
Please continue to continue to put your trust in us so that the next DANAFFs will be larger and more professional, contributing to the development of Vietnam’s film industry, and soon bringing Da Nang – a city strong in content creation and festivals – into the UNESCO creative cities network.”
Vietnamese Film Category: Face Off 7 and Mai “collect awards”
After breaking the box office record, Mai continued to achieve admirable achievements at the Da Nang Asian Film Festival, with 3 awards: Best Director, Best Actress and the highest award in the Vietnamese Film Competition category – Best Vietnamese Film.
The male director shared that his greatest wish is to find a point of intersection between art films and entertainment films. In addition, he also sent his thanks to the two actors Phuong Anh Dao and Hong Dao, the two factors that made the film Mai bring so many unforgettable emotions.
Another box office blockbuster, Face Off 7: One Wish, won two awards: Outstanding Cast and the NETPAC (Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema) Award for Outstanding Vietnamese Film.
In addition, the film also won the Outstanding Cast Award – a similar award Innovative but undeniable, director Ly Hai’s film has an even cast, creating many highlights in such a multi-stranded story, even though the theme only revolves around maternal love.
Thai Hoa has a complete collection of 3 film awards in Vietnam, after Canh Dieu, Bong Sen and now DANAFF 2024 with the male lead in the film Con Nhót nhớt Chong.
It is just a pity that there is no award in one category, which is Best Screenplay, does this raise some concern, when almost every time there is a shortage of good scripts in the Vietnamese film industry.
Asian Film Category: Emotional!
Experts all agree that the list of films participating in DANAFF 2024 in the Asian Film category are all high-quality works that have won many prestigious international awards. However, the fact that director Pham Ngoc Lan’s “Cu li khong bao nhat khoc” won the highest prize surprised many people, because last year, another Vietnamese work, “Nhung dua tre trong dew”, also won the highest prize in this category.
This could be the motivation for producer Nghiem Quynh Trang to widely show Cu Li Never Cries in theaters in Vietnam in the near future. In addition, this is also an independent film that has made a splash internationally.
In addition, if the audience watches the Asian films competing this year, they will probably find the results reasonable. The film All Ears by director Liu Jiayin won the Screenplay award, which is considered reasonable, because few people dare to bravely make new, unique discoveries about the story behind the loss and departure of loved ones.
Fly Me to the Moon (Eternal Wish) – a Hong Kong (China) film that won three Golden Horse Awards brought home the Best Actor award for Kang Ren Wu when he played a drug-addicted father, bringing a very different perspective on the family story. Kang Ren Wu previously won for this role with two awards from the Hong Kong Film Awards and the Hong Kong Film Critics Society.
The film Ann’s Life won two awards for Best Actress and the Jury Choice Film Award. At free screenings at DANAFF, the film received quite good feedback when describing the reality of Japanese society with hidden corners.
“Waiting for a DANAFF 2025 season with many attractive films”
In the Seminars on Film Co-production or Experience in Organizing Film Festivals at DANAFF 2025, many international experts said that a sustainable Film Festival must have good films of good quality.
After two relatively successful DANAFF seasons in terms of film quality, Dr. Ngo Phuong Lan will certainly have more motivation to bring back attractive works in terms of both entertainment and art.
Awards Summary:
Asian Film Competition Category (determined by the Asian Film Jury), including:
- Best Film Award: Cu Li Never Cries
- Special Jury Prize: A Girl Named Ann
- Best Director: Pham Thien An (Inside the Yellow Cocoon Shell)
- Best Actor: Wu Kang Ren (Fly Me To The Moon, Hong Kong (China))
- Best Actress: Yuumi Kawai (A Girl Named Ann, Japan)
- Best Screenplay: Liu Jianyin (All Ears, China)
Vietnamese Film Competition Category (decided by the Vietnamese Film Jury), including:
- Best Film Award: Mai
- Best Cast: Face Off 7: One Wish
- Best Director: Tran Thanh (Mai)
- Best Actor: Thai Hoa (Nhot Must Marry)
- Best Actress: Phuong Anh Dao (Mai)
- Best Screenplay: None
- NETPAC Award for Best Vietnamese Film: Face Off 7: One Wish
- Audience Award for Most Favorite Vietnamese Film: animated series by Trinh Lam Tung.
