On the tube: The TV series Trai Tim Co Nang (Heart Has a Sunlight) will compete in the category of long-television series.

HA NOI (VNS) — The 34th National Television Festival will kick off in central Hue City on Wednesday with the screenings of some 500 television programmes produced by Viet Nam Television (VTV), local television stations and communication companies.

The festival will bring together television programming executives from throughout the country who have the opportunity to present their works produced in 2014.

Highlights of the festival will be three intensive seminars taking place on December 18 and 19 at Century Hotel focusing on agriculture and rural development programmes and a second session, entitled "Strength of Breaking News and New Media – Challenges and Opportunities for Television Producers".

"The seminar on new media will be very important for television programme production. Traditional television has to face the mushrooming of developments of new media that seek on-demand access to content anytime, anywhere on any digital device," Pham Viet Tien, VTV's deputy-general director, said at a press conference held on Friday.

"However, new media also brings more opportunities to television makers," Tien said.

Experts from foreign television stations, such as South Korean KBS Television and Japanese NHK Television, will share their experiences in the seminar "Strength of Breaking News". Their stories will include information about how Americans produce breaking news and NHK television reports breaking news on natural disasters.

Also, some 100-television production units with over 500 programmes will compete in nine categories, including children's programmes, documentaries, reportage, science and educational programmes, talk show-dialogues-discussions, ethnic language programmes, music shows and television series.

The reportage category has received the most entries, with about 147 programmes. Additionally, some 91 documentaries have been submitted, while science and educational programmes include 69 submissions.

The annual event aims to honour producers, directors and camera crews, as well as outstanding programmes produced for television that have provided insight into the daily lives of the people of the country.

This year, jury panels will award the best programmes that have not only superior content, but also those that are creative and unique, according to the festival organisers.

The nine jury panelists will include artists Xuan Bac and Tran Luc, veteran journalist Vu Cong Lap, and Hue Academy of Music's director Nguyen Viet Duc to award gold and silver medals, along with certificates, to the best television programmes and television producers.

The festival also offers a chance for television producers to display their pictures, taken during their time producing programmes, at a photo exhibition held at 49 Le Loi Street.

Further, the festival offers an opportunity for television workers to exchange and share experiences, helping to provide the best television programmes for audiences.

The opening ceremony will showcase typical Hue culture, while the closing ceremony will feature A-list pop singers, such as Ho Ngoc Ha and My Le.

The ceremonies will be aired live on VTV's channel 1 and Hue Television. It is the second time the national festival has been held in Hue City, following the first ceremonies in 1999. — VNS