(VNF) - Vietnamese documentary “Way to School” won the Special Jury Prize at the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) Prizes 2016 on October 24^th in Bali, Indonesia.

This year, thirteen prizes were offered to various ABU members in seven TV and six Radio categories. They were all recognised for their professionalism and excellence demonstrated in their programmes submitted to the contest this year.

Director Nguyen Nhat Duy (L) received the Special Prize by the Jury of the Asia - Pacific Broadcasting Union 2016, for his documentary "Way to School". (Photo provided by VTV7)

"This time last year, we was hardly preparing for the first launching of Vietnam National Education Television channel VTV7. Way to school is our first project for VTV7 content. We would like to tell by our heart about the beautiful story of Vietnamese children in mountain area, who overcome the difficulties to make their dream come true, GO TO SCHOOL. That's also our dream for VTV7 channel, FOR AN EAGER TO LEARN SOCIETY." Young Director Nguyen Nhat Duy said when he received the Special Prize by the Jury for television winner category.

"Way to School" is a six-episode series produced by national television broadcaster Vietnam Television (VTV) and tells the story of 13-year-old Hang and 11-year-old sister Sua, two ethnic minority students who have to walk 28 km through jungle and streams on foot in the cold weather of mountainous Son La Province in northern Vietnam to get the education that they deserve.

A scene in the documentary “Way to School”. (Photo courtesy of VTV7)

"Way to School" is the first installment of a six-episode documentary series of the same name produced by VTV’s Production Center for Educational Programs that has won gold in the documentary at Vietnam’s 2015 National Television Festival.

VTV also had two other entries nominated for awards: “I’m Beautiful and You Too” and “Runaway Bride”.

The ABU Prizes is an annual award offered to outstanding radio and television programs by broadcasters across the Asia-Pacific region that are members of the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union.

The Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union, or ABU, is a non-profit and non-government association working to “promote the collective interests of television and radio broadcasters and encourages regional and international co-operation between broadcasters”.

This year, more 200 entries were submitted to this year’s ABU Prizes, which have been shortlisted into 55 finalists pided by radio and television programs.

Last month Vietnam's culture ministry also has submitted the coming-of-age drama “Yellow Flowers on the Green Grass” to vie for the Best Foreign Film prize at the 89^th Academy Awards, which will take place on February 26^th, 2017./.

( Compiled by VNF )