Hong Kong director Johnnie To, Cannes film curator join DANAFF IV jury
VOV.VN - Acclaimed Hong Kong director Johnnie To Kei-fung and Julien Rejl, artistic director of the Directors’ Fortnight section at the Cannes Film Festival, will serve on the jury for the Asian Competition section at the fourth Da Nang Asian Film Festival (DANAFF IV) in 2026.
To will chair the jury, while Rejl will serve as a jury member, organizers said. Their participation is considered one of the professional highlights of this year’s festival as DANAFF continues expanding ties with regional and international cinema.
Often referred to as the “Steven Spielberg of Guangdong,” Johnnie To is regarded as one of the most influential figures in contemporary Hong Kong cinema.
Beginning his career at TVB, he became known for noir-style crime films exploring power struggles, morality and survival instincts in modern society.
Many of his films are considered milestones of Hong Kong cinema, including A Moment of Romance, The Mission, Election and Drug War. Throughout his career, he has collaborated with leading Hong Kong actors such as Chow Yun-fat, Louis Koo and Andy Lau.
The 71-year-old filmmaker has also served on juries at major international film festivals including Cannes, Venice and Berlin. At DANAFF IV, he will chair the jury for the Asian Competition section.
Joining him is Rejl, a film critic and curator familiar within Europe’s art-house film festival circuit. He currently serves as artistic director of Directors’ Fortnight, an independent parallel section of the Cannes Film Festival dedicated to discovering emerging cinematic voices.
A graduate of La Fémis and Sorbonne University, Rejl has worked in film curation, distribution and criticism. He has collaborated with international filmmakers including Hong Sang-soo, Tsai Ming-liang and Bi Gan.
Directors’ Fortnight also selected Inside the Yellow Cocoon Shell by Vietnamese director Pham Thien An for screening in 2023. The film later became the first Vietnamese production to win the Caméra d’Or at Cannes.
The participation of Johnnie To and Julien Rejl demonstrates DANAFF IV’s efforts to strengthen its professional standing while creating more opportunities for exchanges between Vietnamese cinema and international filmmakers, curators and film festival networks.
DANAFF 2026 opens up co-production opportunities for Asian film projects
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