On June 26, DANAFF Script Lab officially commenced with its first meeting between international mentors, scriptwriters, and participants, marking the beginning of an intensive programme of training, discussions, and project development as part of the 4th Da Nang Asian Film Festival (DANAFF IV).
During the opening session, participants had the opportunity to meet the programme’s six international mentors, introduce themselves, present their projects, and share their creative aspirations. The session laid the foundation for meaningful mentor-mentee relationships that will continue throughout the workshop.
A key highlight of the first working day was the announcement of project allocations to individual mentors. The matching process was carefully designed by the organizing committee, taking into account the core strengths of each screenplay and the professional expertise of each mentor to ensure the most effective guidance throughout the programme.
Accordingly, screenwriters Phillip Van and Kristy Lowrey, who is also a producer, will mentor projects in the genre film category. Screenwriter and professor Sabrina Dhawan will work with projects featuring epic storytelling, emotional depth, and female perspectives, particularly stories centered on women. Screenwriter, director, and producer Anthony Chen will focus on projects that explore character development and character arcs while sharing practical insights drawn from his experience as both a filmmaker and producer.
One-on-one mentoring sessions officially began later that afternoon. Each discussion is built on an open and collaborative spirit, respecting the writer’s creative voice while helping identify the most suitable direction for each project, rather than imposing a predetermined formula.
“Find the Story Beneath the Story” serves as the central theme of this year’s DANAFF Script Lab.
Every screenplay already contains its plot, characters, and conflicts, but beneath them lies a deeper layer of meaning—a question yet to be answered, a memory, an aspiration, or a personal reflection of the writer. Through close collaboration with the mentors, the Script Lab aims to help participants uncover these hidden layers, enabling them to develop their stories with greater authenticity, emotional depth, and creative vitality.
The first conversations have officially begun, marking the start of an inspiring creative journey that promises to foster new breakthroughs for Vietnamese film projects.
DANANG TOURISM PROMOTION CENTER
