The 42nd National Television Festival: Increased Number of Entries, Affirming Unique Appeal

On March 13, the press conference for the 42nd NTF was held at Vietnam Television (VTV). Scheduled from March 19 to 22 in Quy Nhon City, Binh Dinh Province, the event will serve as a platform for networking, sharing expertise, and updating modern trends for television professionals nationwide.

The press conference was attended by Mr. Do Thanh Hai, Deputy General Director of VTV and Vice Chairman of the 42nd NTF; Mr. Lam Hai Giang, Vice Chairman of Binh Dinh Provincial People's Committee; Mr. Pham Ngoc Thai, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism of Binh Dinh; and Mr. Nguyen Cong Son, Director of Binh Dinh Radio and Television Station and Deputy Head of the NTF Organizing Committee. Also present were leaders from media and press agencies nationwide and a large number of journalists.

Many Notable New Highlights

To keep up  with changes in production units across the country, the 42nd NTF has made adjustments  to the  categories and the number of entries. The Specialized – Educational Program category has been renamed Educational Program. The Digital Platform Video category now has three sub-categories: Digital platform video with current affairs content, Digital platform video with cultural and educational content, Digital platform video with entertainment content.

The Television Drama category has been streamlined into two sub-categories: Short Series and Long Series. Short Series includes shows with fewer than 10 episodes, with no time limit per episode. For Long Series, there is no restriction on the number of episodes or duration.

The Children's Program category now allows up to 45 minutes per program (previously 30 minutes). The Documentary Film category has been expanded to include entries under 30 minutes and those under 60 minutes.

Mr. Do Thanh Hai - Deputy General Director of Vietnam Television (VTV), Vice Chairman of the 42nd National Television Festival (NTF), speaks at the press conference.

With 734 entries from 100 units, the festival continues to demonstrate  its unique appeal. The festival will judge and award works in 11 categories: Children's Program (26 entries), Documentary (97), Reportage (140), Short Reportage (148), Educational Program (46), Talk Show (46), Ethnic Minority Program (52), Music and Dance Program (57), Stage Performance (20), Television Drama (34), and Digital Platform Video (66).

Only 5% of entries will receive the Gold Award, so the  competition is fierce. Entrants  have put a lot of effort and creativity into producing high-quality works for the festival.

The short reportage genre, which dominates the number of entries at this year's Festival,   follows current eventsand offers  slices of life with diverse and practical themes: Streamlined Days (Ho Chi Minh City Television Film Studio), Natural Disasters, Human Causes (Dien Bien Radio and Television), The White Death (Kien Giang Radio and Television), Say No and Zero (Quang Ngai Radio and Television)... Many works highlight exemplary individuals: The Hero (Nam Dinh Radio and Television), Flowers in Everyday Life (Ha Nam Radio and Television), Breathing Life into Plastic Thai Statues (Thai Binh Radio and Television), The Devoted One (Hung Yen Radio and Television), Sister Tu Phung (Ca Mau Radio and Television)...

Meritorious Artist Tan Minh and People's Artist Bui Nhu Lai are among the judges at this year's Festival.

A total of 140 reportage works at the Festival reflect diverse and vivid perspectives: Two Programs, One Failure (Binh Dinh Radio and Television), The Revival Journey of Ni Village (Lao Cai Radio and Television), Job-Seeking Journey in a Foreign Land: Leaving with Three No's, Returning with Five No's (Tay Ninh Radio and Television), Finding Opportunities in Crisis (Vinh Long Radio and Television), The Trap (Phu Yen Radio and Television), Listening to the People - The People Listen (Khanh Hoa Radio and Television), and Preventing the Juvenile Crime Trend (Hai Phong Radio and Television)...

With 34 entries from 14 production units, the Television Drama category nearly doubled in quantity compared to the previous Festival. Several series left a strong impression on viewers when aired: Blackboard Tree Returns in the Wind, Us, Eight Years Later, Our Family’s Sudden Joy, No Time, Meeting You on a Sunny Day (VTV Television Film Center); Tet in Hell Village, Our Strange Family (Vietnam Satellite Digital Television Company)... In addition to experienced production units, this year's Festival also features  the  participation of local  broadcasters with  Fragrance of the Grass (Dong Thap Radio and Television), The Rising Dawn (Quang Ninh Provincial Media Center).

At the press conference for the 42nd NTF, Mr. Do Thanh Hai, Deputy General Director of VTV, affirmed that the participation of 734 entries shows that the festival continues to be an attractive destination for reporters and editors from radio and television stations across the country. This year’s festival holds even greater significance as it coincides with major national anniversaries and the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of Binh Dinh (March 31, 1975 – March 31, 2025). With the support of Binh Dinh province, the organizing committee is confident that this year’s festival will be a resounding success and leave a lasting impression.

Mr. Do Thanh Hai noted that the 42nd NTF has received a large number of submissions in the new category of digital platform videos. This reflects not only  the improvement of content quality but also the increasing role of digital transformation and new  technologies in journalism, particularly in the production and distribution of content across multiple platforms.

The organizing committee also hopes that many entries will capture the pulse of contemporary life and address current social issues. This will pose a significant challenge for the judges  to  fairly and objectively select  and award  the best works and authors.

A key factor in the success of the National Television Festival is the panel of judges, which includes not only experienced journalists but also renowned artists such as Meritorious Artist Tan Minh and People’s Artist Bui Nhu Lai.

BINH DINH IS READY TO WELCOME A GLORIOUS FESTIVAL

Mr. Lam Hai Giang, Vice Chairman of the Binh Dinh Provincial People's Committee, speaks at the press conference.

At the press conference, Mr. Lam Hai Giang, Vice Chairman of the Binh Dinh Provincial People's Committee, said that the provincial government has closely coordinated with Vietnam Television and related agencies to ensure smooth and successful preparations for the 42nd National Television Festival. As of now, all preparations have been basically  completed with a spirit of urgency and high responsibility. Binh Dinh is ready to welcome delegations to the festival, creating an increasingly vibrant atmosphere leading up to the opening ceremony.

"The atmosphere in Quy Nhon is heating up with great anticipation for this year's NTF, as this is the first time the event is being held in Quy Nhon", said Mr. Lam Hai Giang. "We also hope that, amidst the many significant events taking place locally, the 42nd NTF will  make  a positive impact, becoming a gathering point that attracts residents and tourists, while marking a new milestone for television reporters and journalists".

Binh Dinh has received special support in media coverage  from Vietnam Television and both central and local  media. This support not only promotes Binh Dinh’s culture and people but also highlights the province’s potential and strengths,  thereby  boosting investment attraction and socio-economic development. On the occasion of hosting the 42nd National Television Festival, Binh Dinh will welcome thousands of journalists from media agencies across the country. The province hopes to continue receiving attention and support from news agencies, reporters, and journalists, including the promotion of unique tourism products, traditional cultural features, as well as the potential and strengths of the land and people of Quy Nhon in particular and Binh Dinh province in general.

A Rich Array of Activities

The 42nd National Television Festival will feature a variety of outstanding activities, including the "Television Technology Exhibition", the photo exhibition titled "The People of Television", and sightseeing tours of Binh Dinh's landmarks. In particular, there will be two thematic seminars that closely address the practical development needs of the television industry and focus on the application of AI in various operations. Additionally, industry professionals will discuss the VTV Ratings audience measurement system, which evaluates the quality of television programs and analyzes audience viewing trends.

The "Television Journalist Skills in the Digital Environment" seminar will feature top experts in digital journalism and cover two key topics: skills for success in the digital environment and optimizing work efficiency with "AI Colleagues".

The "Data Mining and AI Application for Digital Transformation in Television Stations" seminar will explore solutions for data mining, AI application, and advanced technologies to enhance the production, distribution, and copyright management of television content across multiple platforms. 

At the press conference, Mr. Lai Bac Hai Dang, Deputy Head of the Culture and Entertainment Department of Vietnam Television (VTV), reveals details about the Opening Ceremony, Closing Ceremony, and Awards Ceremony of the 42nd NTF.

A major highlight of this year’s festival is the Opening Ceremony and the Closing and Awards Ceremony. Mr. Lai Bac Hai Dang, Deputy Head of the Culture and Entertainment Department of VTV, which is  responsible for organizing this year's the Opening and Closing ceremonies of this year's NTF, revealed that the Closing Ceremony will offer an intimate experience for the television audience while serving as a true artistic performance. With the participation of renowned artists such as Pham Thu Ha, Ho Trung Dung, Hoang Hai, Quang Dung, PiaLinh, and JunDi, the program will feature creative performances that blend Binh Dinh’s traditional cultural elements, such as martial arts and Bai Choi folk music, with modern, youthful expressions. The organizing committee also hinted at a special performance by VTV’s very own hosts.

Alongside the festival, several side activities will take place in Binh Dinh, including free heart disease screening for children under 18, the inauguration and handover of 10 houses, three school facilities, and the groundbreaking of two bridges with a total value of nearly VND4 billion. Additionally, TVs and savings books will be donated to disadvantaged households, and scholarships will be awarded to underprivileged students.

The Opening Ceremony of the 42nd National Television Festival will be held at 6:00 PM on March 19, 2025, and broadcast live on VTV’s digital platforms and BTV, the channel of Binh Dinh Radio and Television Station.

The Closing and Awards Ceremony will be broadcast live at 8:10 PM on March 22, 2025, on VTV1 and streamed on VTV’s digital platforms.