Coastal Nha Trang hosts the 39th National Television Festival

This is the biggest event for television producers to meet and exchange their working experiences.

Nearly 500 television productions have been nominated for awards in nine categories, including children’s show, reportage, science-education show, talk show, documentary, ethnic language show, music show, stage performance, and television drama.

“Reportage and documentary categories are the most for any section,” said Nguyễn Hà Nam, head of Việt Nam National Television’s Editorial Secretary Board, also head of festival organisation.

Reportage received nearly 150 entries while documentaries attracted 86 entries.

A production entitled Thày Thuốc Của Rừng (Doctor of Forest) by Central Highlands Lâm Đồng Television Station will compete at the reportage category.

“It is about the work of rangers to save pine forests in Lâm Đồng Province,” said reporter Nguyễn Phụng Hoàng Phúc.

“The pine forest is damaged by toxic chemicals.”

The category also include the works such as Câu Chuyện Về Nhà Giàn Phúc Nguyên 2A (Story about Phúc Nguyên 2A Platform); Thách Thức Công Tác Quản Lý Người Nước Ngoài ở Tỉnh Quảng Ninh (Challenges of Foreigner Management in Quảng Ninh Province) and Nỗi Lo An Ninh Nguồn Nước (Worries about Water Source Security).

These reveal hot issues related to politics and society.

Television stations in mountainous provinces such as Bắc Cạn and Lai Châu will bring productions to the festival to compete at science and education shows, ethnic language and music categories.

“Television stations have many duties such as providing information but they also contribute to raise awareness for television viewers,” said reporter Võ Huỳnh Tấn Tài, from HCM City Television.

“We always follow what’s going on in daily life and find the right people to appear on television. At the festival, we see good productions by our colleagues and share experiences.”

The stage performance and television drama category will include five television series including Về Nhà Đi Con (Come Home, My Dear) and Tiếng Sét Trong Mưa (Thunderbolt in Rain).

Directed by Nguyễn Danh Dũng, the series is about family issues. With simple stories that everyone may face, the series was welcomed by viewers. It soon became a blockbuster for Việt Nam Television (VTV).

It picked up three important awards at VTV Award 2019 for the best series, the best actor and best actress.

Two seminars discussing television production and distribution on the internet and investigation reportage production will be held during the festival, as will a photo exhibition featuring television producers at work in Conference Centre at 44 Trần Phú Street.

The festival will begin at 8pm at the centre. The opening and closing ceremonies will be broadcast on VTV Channel 1.

The festival will also help raise awareness for children suffering from congenital heart defects which is VTV’s charity fund in co-ordination with Viettel Khánh Hòa and HCM University Medical Centre on December 7-8 at Khánh Hòa Hospital.