On the morning of May 19, Vietnam Television (VTV) officially launched the ABU CARE 13 television documentary co-production project in collaboration with the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU). Notably, this year’s event is combined with an in-depth professional training workshop for VTV personnel, reaffirming VTV’s active role in promoting regional cooperation initiatives as a member of the ABU Administrative Council.
The event runs from May 19 to May 22, 2026, at the VTV headquarters in a hybrid format combining in-person and online participation. Representing VTV at the event were Mr. Ho Kien, Chief of the VTV Office; Ms. Thai Nguyet Que, Deputy Chief of the VTV Office; Mr. Nguyen Hoang Lam, Deputy Head of the Features and Educational Department; and Ms. Nguyen Thi Kim Hoa, also Deputy Head of the Features and Educational Department.
Representing the ABU were Mr. Aoki Kazunori, Head of the Program Department at the ABU Secretariat; Ms. Leeza Fathimath, also from the ABU Secretariat; Ms. Xiao Xiaowai, Production Director of the ABU CARE 13 series; and Mr. Mark Bowling, CEO of Mark Bowling Media.
The event also welcomed producers participating in the 13th ABU CARE co-production project from broadcasters including TVRI (Indonesia), Prasar Bharati (India), KBS (South Korea), LNTV (Laos), RTM (Malaysia), TRT (Türkiye), among others. In addition, around 40 editorial staff members from various VTV departments joined the workshop.
In his opening remarks, Mr. Ho Kien, Chief of the VTV Office , emphasized that the presence of international and Vietnamese guests alike reflected the strong spirit of cooperation that gives the ABU CARE project its meaningful value. Aalongside discussions on co-production collaboration, this year will feature master classes and practical sharing sessions that will provide valuable opportunities for participants to improve their documentary storytelling skills, exchange ideas, and further develop their professional expertise.
Mr. Ho Kien, Chief of the VTV Office, speaks at the event.
Mr. Aoki Kazunori, Director of the ABU Program Department, expressed enthusiasm about participating in the ABU Documentary Co-Production Conference and VTV’s documentary and feature production workshop. He encouraged delegates to openly share ideas and valuable experiences. “By working together, we can create works that truly reflect the diversity of the communities we live in”, said Mr. Aoki.
Mr. Aoki Kazunori, Director of the ABU Program Department, speaks at the event.
A major highlight of the four-day event is a series of master classes on the theme “How to Create an Award-Winning Documentary”, led by experienced producers. Xiao Xiaowai, director from CGTN, (China) will be among the instructors. She brings more than two decades of filmmaking experience and has won numerous prestigious awards, including the Gold Camera Award at the US International Film & Video Festival and a Silver Award at the New York Festivals. Her session, “Painting with Light: Adopting the Cinematic Documentary Approach”, offers participants a unique cinematic perspective on documentary production.
Veteran filmmaker Nurashikin Zaharuddin will join the event online from Kuala Lumpur to share practical insights in the session “Winning the Jury”. She will guide VTV production teams in reviewing, evaluating, and selecting documentaries for international awards. Mr. Murase Fuminori, an ABU Award-winning producer from Nagoya TV (Japan), will conclude the training series. He will present practical and inspiring perspectives drawn from decades of filmmaking experience, presented in sessions titled “Storytelling That Resonates” and “A Life in Documentary: Three Decades of Storytelling”.
Alongside presentations by international experts, VTV production teams are sharing their own experiences through the “Mini-input: VTV Showcase” series.
Featured works screened and analyzed include The Promised Land by director Ta Quynh Tu (Second Prize at AIBD 2018); Fragments of Memory by director Le Hoang Linh (Third Prize at the Global Media Peace Awards 2025); and Four Seasons in the Deep Forest by director Nguyen Duc De (Second Prize in the Best TV Program category at the AIBD International Media Awards 2026).
This series of events not only provides an opportunity for professional exchange in television production, but it also carries strategic significance for VTV. The ABU CARE 13 collaboration aims to provide fresh perspectives in television documentary production while strengthening the professional capabilities of VTV staff in an increasingly integrated international media environment.
