The Da Nang People’s Committee has issued Plan No. 521/KH-UBND dated October 8, 2026, on the organisation of the 5th Da Nang Asian Film Festival (DANAFF V) in 2027, under the slogan “DANAFF – Bridge from Asia to the World”. The festival is scheduled to take place over seven days, from June 27 to July 3, 2027.
Continuing to Honour Outstanding Cinematic Works
DANAFF V will feature two official competition categories: the Asian Film Competition and the Vietnamese Film Competition. Both categories are open to feature-length films exceeding 70 minutes, with specific production periods and selection criteria.
For the Asian Film Competition, films will be selected from submissions representing film industries across the Asia-Pacific region, as well as works recommended by domestic and international film organisations. Eligible films must have been produced between April 1, 2026, and March 31, 2027.
For the Vietnamese Film Competition, eligible films must have been produced between May 1, 2026, and April 15, 2027, and have received official approval for public screening. The Organising Committee will establish a Selection Council to identify films that meet the award criteria and comply with relevant regulations.
In addition to the competition categories, the non-competition screening programmes will include “Vietnamese Cinema Today”, “Selected Vietnamese Films”, “Panorama of Asian Cinema”, a showcase of films from APEC economies, a special programme featuring films about Da Nang selected by the city (if any), and selected works by international film partners and distinguished guests.
Films selected for the “Vietnamese Cinema Today” programme must have been produced between May 1, 2026, and April 15, 2027, and have received official approval for public screening.
The festival’s award structure recognises excellence across various aspects of filmmaking. In the Asian Film Competition, the Best Asian Film Award carries a prize of VND 250 million, while the Special Jury Prize for an Asian Film is valued at VND 125 million. Awards for Best Director, Best Leading Actor, Best Leading Actress and Best Screenplay each carry a prize of VND 75 million.
In the Vietnamese Film Competition, the Best Vietnamese Film Award is valued at VND 150 million, while the Special Jury Prize for a Vietnamese Film carries VND 70 million. Awards for Best Director, Best Leading Actor, Best Leading Actress and Best Screenplay each carry a prize of VND 30 million.
DANAFF V will also present the NETPAC Award, the Critics’ Award for an outstanding Asian film selected from the “Panorama of Asian Cinema” programme, the Audience Choice Award for the most popular Vietnamese film in the “Vietnamese Cinema Today” programme, and the Lifetime Achievement Award honouring distinguished filmmakers from Asia or around the world.
Connecting the Film Industry in the Lead-up to APEC 2027
One of the highlights of DANAFF V will be the APEC Film Spotlight and APEC Cinema Forum, designed to promote cinematic exchange and cooperation across the Asia-Pacific region during APEC Year 2027.
Alongside these initiatives, the festival’s professional programme is expected to feature seminars on the portrayal of women in Vietnamese cinema and film industry development; masterclasses led by international film experts; the DANAFF Talents programme; the “Nurturing Talent” workshop; and a Project Incubator supporting emerging Vietnamese and international filmmakers with promising projects.
At DANAFF IV, “Death Battle in the Air”, directed by Ham Tran, received the Best Film Award in the Vietnamese Film Competition.
DANAFF Industry Days will serve as a professional networking platform connecting producers, directors, investors, distributors, content platforms and film service providers from Vietnam and abroad. Planned activities include industry discussions, project presentations and pitching sessions, business-to-business meetings, co-production opportunities, film distribution and rights trading, investment promotion, and initiatives to showcase Da Nang as a filming destination.
The festival will also feature a range of accompanying activities, including outdoor film screenings, audience interactions, press meetings, and exchanges with Vietnamese and international artists and filmmakers.
A dedicated experiential space, “Da Nang – A Film Destination”, will showcase the city’s distinctive filming locations, together with information on infrastructure, accommodation, transportation, equipment, human resources and procedures for supporting film crews.
The opening ceremony, closing ceremony and awards presentation are expected to take place at the Ariyana Convention Centre in Da Nang. According to the plan, these events will be broadcast live on Vietnam Television (VTV), with simultaneous coverage by Da Nang’s local media outlets, other provincial television stations and digital platforms.
The Organising Committee expects to welcome approximately 1,400 domestic and international guests, including around 400 international delegates and 1,000 domestic participants.
Through DANAFF V, Da Nang aims to strengthen film project development, talent training, production partnerships, distribution and investment networks, while promoting filming locations and attracting more film crews to the city.
These efforts are expected to gradually establish a film industry ecosystem closely linked to the development of cultural industries, tourism and services. In doing so, DANAFF V will continue to contribute to cinematic exchange and cooperation across the Asia-Pacific region during APEC Year 2027.
DANANG TOURISM PROMOTION CENTER
