The ceremony was held in a formal yet friendly atmosphere and was attended by Mr. Nguyen Thanh Lam, Director General of VTV, Mr. Daniel Papp, Director General of MTVA, and representatives from various VTV departments and centers, as well as Voice of Vietnam (VOV) and the Hungarian delegation.
Prior to the signing, the MTVA-DUNA delegation toured several VTV production facilities, including the Newsroom of the News Department, the Center for Digital Content Production and Development, and the Center for Technical and Artistic Production. These units showcase advanced technology and creative human resources, reflecting the scale and capabilities of a national broadcaster.
Speaking at the ceremony, Director General Nguyen Thanh Lam stated that VTV is not only a national broadcaster with a large and loyal audience, but also a member of the Administrative Council of the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU). As part of its development strategy, VTV is transitioning into a multi-platform media group, expanding digital services, applying artificial intelligence (AI), and emphasizing international cooperation as a means of fostering cultural exchange and expanding external communications. He stressed the importance of developing media cooperation between public broadcasters in the current context. “VTV and MTVA, two major broadcasters from Vietnam and Hungary, share many similarities. We can immediately begin implementing several feasible cooperation activities this year in celebration of the 75th anniversary of Vietnam–Hungary diplomatic relations, such as co-organizing a symphonic concert to promote cultural exchange and strengthen people-to-people ties”, Mr. Nguyen Thanh Lam proposed.
On behalf of Hungary’s public media, Mr. Dániel Papp provided an overview of the Hungarian media system, which encompasses a variety of radio and television channels with a global reach, including nine TV channels, seven radio stations, and five digital platforms. MTVA also owns and manages numerous public content platforms, including terrestrial digital TV and radio, print media, and a national archive. Their broadcasting reaches across Hungary, Europe, and the globe via satellite and the internet. MTVA currently maintains 29 foreign bureaus in Europe, Asia, the United States, and the Middle East.
In response to Mr. Lam’s proposal, Mr. Papp expressed strong agreement with and appreciation for the specific, in-depth cooperation initiatives. He said, “We highly value VTV’s programs and advanced technology, especially the excellence of their content production and technical capability. MTVA looks forward to more opportunities to exchange ideas, learn from each other, and grow together, thereby further strengthening the partnership between our two broadcasters”.
During the meeting, both sides reached a high level of consensus on key areas of cooperation, including establishing a mechanism for news exchange and support for resident correspondents, sharing television programs (particularly documentaries, cultural content, and feature shows)co-producing special reports, and cooperation in training and technical support.
At the signing ceremony, MTVA presented VTV with the broadcasting rights for four Hungarian feature films, including “Fateless”, an acclaimed adaptation of a Nobel Prize-winning novel. This meaningful gift will help Vietnamese audiences gain a deeper understanding of the Hungarian people, their culture, and their heritage. In return, VTV committed to providing MTVA with distinctive programs produced by VTV to introduce Vietnamese culture and people to audiences in Hungary and Eastern Europe.
The signing of the MoU between VTV and MTVA marks an essential first step toward enhancing media cooperation between Vietnam and Hungary. It contributes to mutual understanding between the two nations and reinforces VTV’s leading role in international media collaboration.
FOUR HUNGARIAN FILMS PRESENTED TO VTV BY MTVA
Sorstalansag – Fateless: The film is based on the eponymous novelby Nobel Prize-winning author Imre Kertész. It tells the story of Gyorgy Koves, a 14-year-old boy during World War II in Hungary. First deported to Auschwitz and later to Buchenwald, he is forced to grow up amid hatred and comes to understand the true meaning of being Jewish. Koves does not rebel against his fate; he neither seems surprised nor attempts to escape. He simply survives and observes until, through a series of coincidences and fortunate or unfortunate twists of fate, he eventually returns home.
Ok tudjak, mi a szerelem (They Know What Love Is): Set in Lyon in the year 1864, the film follows Hector Berlioz—a romantic composer and conductor who achieved immortality through his serenades while still alive, as he declares his love to Estella, his childhood muse who now leads a respectable bourgeois life. During their reunion, the two revisit the long-buried memories of their past, proving that it is never too late to “stop time”. This television drama is based on a highly successful stage adaptation of a play by Miklós Hubay, which was performed at the National Theatre for over 40 years.
Sacra Corona: Set during the first century of the Hungarian state (1000–1100 AD), the film portrays a turbulent era marked by pagan uprisings, conflicts with foreign powers, and fierce struggles over royal succession. The fledgling Christian kingdom, founded by King Stephen, constantly faced the threat of fragmentation. It fell to King Ladislaus to restore peace and unity to the realm. Sacra Corona delves into the era of Saint Ladislaus and the historical backdrop to the creation of the Holy Crown, a seminal emblem of Hungary’s sovereignty and spiritual identity.
Ványa bácsi, Buborekkeringo (Uncle Vanya, The Bubble Waltz): Inspired by Chekhov’s classic play Uncle Vanya, The Bubble Waltz is set in Hungary during the so-called "summer of the century" of the 1990s, on the secluded and forgotten Vojnar estate. Over the course of a month, the story gradually leads the characters to a sobering realization that happiness is neither universal nor guaranteed.
