A TV serial entitled Dan Troi (Heaven's Altar) won a Gold Prize at the 32nd National Television Festival, which ended on Saturday in the central city of Vinh, Nghe An Province. 

Strenuous: A scene in the TV serial Dan Troi (Heaven's Altar) which won a gold prize at the 32nd National Television Festival. — Photo courtesy the film crew

The four-day festival, held by the provincial People's Committee and national television channels, received 500 pieces in nine categories including documentaries, reportage, programmes for children, science and education, ethnic language, music, dialogues and talk shows, stage performing arts and feature films.

Dan Troi, directed by Bui Huy Thuan, is about the fight in a mountainous province against corruption, an urgent problem in society. The director said he had made many films, but the 36-episode serial had been his "most strenuous".

"We had to go to many mountainous provinces to find a context for the serial," he said. "In the next year, I will make another serial on the same subject."

Workshops and exhibitions on rules for television reporters, digital conversions in production and improving the quality of reports were held during the festival.

The organising board granted 30 gold prizes, 57 silver prizes and 134 certificates of merit for excellent works in nine categories.

The annual event was aimed at producers, directors and camera crews of outstanding works that had provided insight into the daily lives of people.

Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan said at the closing ceremony that Vietnamese television and the press were contributing to the development and defence of the country and that each broadcast reflected the nation's 4,000-year-old history, the people who liberated themselves in the 20th century and the determination to develop the country in the 21st century.

The organising board said entries reflected current problems in a lively and truthful manner and met requirements of entertainment and information.