This was the fifth edition of the festival, bringing together works from ten Southeast Asian countries, with 25 films making it to the final round.
According to information released by Viet Nam Television, the judging session took place in a serious and impartial working atmosphere with the participation of 30 international jurors. The council was coordinated by HuynSook Chung, a senior Korean producer who is well known in the global children’s film industry. She has won numerous prestigious awards such as Prix Jeunesse, Japan Prize, and the Chicago International Children’s Festival.
The diversity and reputation of the judging panel contributed to increasing the competitiveness of the event, while reaffirming the festival’s growing standing in the region.
Among the six categories dedicated to professional producers, Viet Nam was honoured in two important categories.
In the Professional Non-Fiction category for children aged 8–12, the documentary Khal’s Walk (Doi chan cua Khai), produced and directed by Hong Hanh, won first prize.
The film tells a moving story about Khai, a boy with physical challenges who always faces life with optimism and extraordinary resilience. His daily struggles are portrayed through his bright eyes and persistent smile. The work not only depicts his journey of overcoming adversity but also honours the values of friendship and affection, conveying a positive message about the inner strength of children.
The second first prize went to the animated film Little Wonders: Cherishing Friend (Nhung dieu nho be – Yeu quy ban be) in the Professional Fiction category, intended for children aged 7 and under.
The film was directed by Le Binh, with a script by editor Kieu Phuong, inspired by a real-life story about her father and son. Using highly artistic cut-paper animation, the film recounts the journey of Bi, an innocent boy learning to overcome a misunderstanding with his friend To To after a small conflict on the football pitch. Memories of his grandfather’s teachings help Bi realise the value of empathy and the importance of “preserving peace” in friendship. The story ends with a warm reconciliation, both gentle and rich in educational meaning.
Both works were produced by the Education and Future Department under the Department of Thematic Educational Programmes of Viet Nam Television and broadcast on VTV7. This achievement reflects the persistent effort of the filmmaking team in creating high-quality humane television products for children, while affirming Viet Nam’s increasingly prominent role in the Southeast Asian children’s content production network.
The two top prizes are not only a source of pride for the television producers but also demonstrate the great creative potential of the younger generation in bringing Vietnamese stories of humanity to the international stage.
