The opening press conference for the fourth Da Nang Asian Film Festival (DANAFF IV) was held on June 27.

Speaking at the event, Dr. Ngo Phuong Lan, President of the Vietnam Association for the Promotion and Development of Cinema and Co-Chair of DANAFF IV, said this year's festival features a longer program, a more professional organization and the largest scale in its history.

From Da Nang, the festival aims to share the creativity, humanistic values and cultural identity of Asian cinema with international audiences. More than 1,000 delegates, filmmakers, artists and guests from Vietnam and abroad are attending the event.

Kieu Chinh traveled from the United States to Vietnam for the festival. At 89, the celebrated actress remains energetic and sharp, attracting significant media attention.

She said she was delighted to attend the festival for the first time and hoped it would become a meeting place connecting Vietnamese cinema with the world.

"I hope the festival will be a success and bring even greater opportunities for cinema in particular and the arts in general, allowing all of us to come together," she said.

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Actress Kieu Chinh returned from the United States to attend the 2026 Da Nang Asian Film Festival.

Kieu Chinh's appearance marks her first return to Vietnam in more than a decade. She stars in The Chrysalis, which has been selected to compete in the Asian Film category at this year's festival.

The Vietnam-US co-production has already been introduced at major international film events, including Cannes.

Dr. Ngo Phuong Lan said she and members of the organizing committee were genuinely surprised after watching The Chrysalis. She thanked Kieu Chinh and the production team for making the long journey to attend the festival.

As part of DANAFF IV, The Chrysalis will receive a special screening on June 29 with the participation of Kieu Chinh, Uy Nhan, Daniel K. Winn, Samuel An, Lan Thy, Le Anh Huy, director J. Robert Schulz and the film's production team.

As in previous editions, the Vietnamese Film Competition remains one of the festival's most anticipated categories. Eleven films were selected from more than 50 Vietnamese productions released over the past year.

Dr. Ngo Phuong Lan said the selection committee considered many factors, with particular emphasis on humanistic values, creativity, social impact and originality.

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Actress Kieu Chinh reunites with Dr. Ngo Phuong Lan and actress Jane Seymour.

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Dr. Ngo Phuong Lan, President of the Vietnam Association for the Promotion and Development of Cinema and Co-Chair of DANAFF IV.

She noted that while arthouse cinema receives significant attention internationally, the genre remains limited in Vietnam.

Among this year's nominees is Red Rain, a war-themed film that previously grossed more than VND700 billion (US$30 million), generating widespread public interest. She described its success as a positive sign that films traditionally considered less commercial are gradually finding broader audiences.

However, she said diversity remains one of the biggest challenges, both for the festival and for Vietnam's film industry as a whole.

"Over the past period, nearly half of the domestic market has been made up of horror films, something the Cinema Department has already warned about. There is nothing wrong with making such films, but filmmakers should also uphold humanistic values and Vietnamese cultural identity in every production. If films are made only to frighten audiences or attract attention, that would be regrettable," she said.

Nguyen Thi Anh Thi, Vice Chairwoman of the Da Nang People's Committee and Co-Chair of DANAFF IV, said that after three editions, the festival has gradually established itself as one of Da Nang's signature cultural events while becoming a meeting place for film lovers from Vietnam and around the world.

"With its fourth edition, the festival continues to reflect Da Nang's aspiration to build an open, dynamic and creative cultural space where cinema is celebrated not only as an art form but also as a bridge connecting people, cultures and the city of Da Nang with regional and international friends," she said.

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Nguyen Thi Anh Thi, Vice Chairwoman of the Da Nang People's Committee, and Dr. Ngo Phuong Lan co-chair the press conference.

DANAFF IV features more than 100 films across several sections, including the Asian Film Competition, Vietnamese Film Competition, Panorama of Asian Cinema, Vietnamese Cinema Today, 40 Years of Doi Moi in Vietnamese Cinema and Focus on American Cinema.

As part of the festival, outdoor screenings will be held at public venues across Da Nang and Hoi An, bringing cinema closer to local residents and visitors.

Tuan Chieu