What the country needs, they said, is not a shortage of compelling stories but stronger international partnerships, broader industry connections, and a more robust film ecosystem capable of bringing Vietnamese productions to audiences worldwide.

Mechanic and Seymour shared their view on the sidelines of the 4th Da Nang Asian Film Festival (DANAFF IV) that is running in Vietnam’s central city from June 28 to July 4.

Film festivals open doors to international collaboration

One of Hollywood’s most influential studio executives, Bill Mechanic served as chairman and CEO of Fox Filmed Entertainment during a period that produced blockbuster films including Titanic, Braveheart, Independence Day, the Star Wars franchise. After founding Pandemonium Films, he went on to produce acclaimed titles such as Coraline, The New World, and Hacksaw Ridge.

Returning to Vietnam for the first time in nearly two decades, Mechanic said he was impressed by how much the country’s film industry has evolved.

He recalled his early visits to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, when Vietnam’s film industry was still in the early stages of professional development. During that period, he helped organise two-week filmmaking workshops and facilitated opportunities for Vietnamese filmmakers to study at the University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts.

According to Mechanic, Vietnam’s ability to host an international event such as DANAFF with filmmakers and productions from across the region and beyond demonstrates how far the industry has progressed.

In his view, a film festival is much more than a place to screen movies. It is where filmmakers meet potential partners, secure financing, exchange ideas and launch international collaborations. Those connections are the foundation of a sustainable film industry.

Mechanic also pointed to the remarkable rise of the Republic of Korea’s film industry over the past three decades. Korean cinema once struggled to compete even in its domestic market, he noted, but strategic investment in cinema infrastructure, audience development and consistently higher production quality eventually transformed it into a global cultural powerhouse.

Vietnam possesses many of the same conditions needed to follow a similar path, he believed.

At DANAFF IV, Mechanic will receive the festival’s Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his contributions to global cinema. He will also lead a Master Class on film production, sharing insights into project development, working with major studios and strategies for reaching international audiences.

Vietnamese stories can resonate worldwide

While Mechanic offered the perspective of a producer, Jane Seymour shared insights from more than five decades as an actress.

The British-American actress has won a Primetime Emmy Award, two Golden Globe Awards and was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) by Queen Elizabeth II. She is best known for performances in Live and Let Die, Somewhere in Time, East of Eden, Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman, and more recently, the television series Harry Wild.

As part of DANAFF IV’s Focus on US Cinema programme, Seymour will present the classic romance Somewhere in Time and meet with Vietnamese audiences. According to Seymour, films that convey genuine human emotions have the power to transcend language and cultural differences.

Stories about love, memory and sacrifice are universal, she said, adding that audiences anywhere in the world can connect with them when they’re told with honesty and emotion.

During an Acting Master Class for young performers, Seymour will encourage aspiring actors not to limit themselves to a single type of role.

Having first gained international recognition as a Bond girl, she deliberately expanded her career by taking on dramatic, comedic and villainous characters, demonstrating the importance of versatility.

She also emphasised that acting requires not only emotional expression but also technical discipline, intellectual preparation and physical control. Her background in ballet and martial arts, she said, enabled her to adapt to a wide range of film genres.

Asked about Vietnam’s prospects, Seymour pointed out that the biggest challenge is not language but expanding international collaboration. When filmmakers share resources, expertise and creative perspectives, locally rooted stories have a much greater chance of reaching global audiences, she explained.

She cited Chrysalis, a film based on the life of Vietnamese-born artist Daniel Winn, who built his career in the United States, as an example of how stories originating in Vietnam can attract international interest.

DANAFF strengthens Vietnam’s global film ambitions

The participation of internationally renowned Hollywood figures at DANAFF IV reflects the growing profile of Vietnam’s film industry within the regional and global cinema landscape.

Through film screenings, professional forums and Master Class sessions, DANAFF is steadily establishing itself as a platform connecting Vietnamese filmmakers with international producers, investors and creative talent.

The insights shared by Bill Mechanic and Jane Seymour underscore Vietnam’s significant strengths, from its rich cultural heritage and emerging generation of filmmakers to increasing international interest in Vietnamese stories.

They believed the next stage of development would depend on producing higher-quality films, expanding international co-productions and making full use of global film festivals as gateways for Vietnamese cinema to reach audiences around the world.