Hanoi (VNS/VNA) — The best actor and actress awards of the 40th NationalTelevision Festival have been presented to Nguyen Le Viet Anh for his role inthe film Sinh Tu (Life andDeath) and Nguyen Ngoc Lan for her role in LuatTroi (The Law of Heaven), respectively.

The awards ceremony of the festival washeld on December 16 in a virtual format for the first time toensure COVID-19 prevention and control.

Speaking at the event, Tran Binh Minh, general director of Vietnam Television(VTV), said it was the first time that the festival was held without thepresence of any delegates but just judges to honour the excellent works.

“This year's television festival has 422 entries in nine categories. Basically,the works have closely followed the mainstream of the nation, focusing onprofound humanistic messages rather than the investment in terms of scale andsophisticated expression.

“The number of entries and the level of investment by the television units,despite being inequivalent to the previous festival due to the impact of thepandemic and the significant decline in revenues, still promote and innovatethe ideological values, content and modes of communication,” he said.

This was the second time that Anh won the highest award at the NationalTelevision Festival.

"It's been five years since I first received the Best Actor award, thefeeling is like the first time," he said, adding that he was filled withhappiness and pride.

The actor added that the award would be a driving force for his career. He isnow starring in the film Huong Duong NguocNang (Sunflower Against the Sun) broadcast on VTV3.

Speaking at the ceremony, actress Lan shared that TheLaw of Heaven was the first film in which she collaborated with VietnamTelevision Film Centre (VFC).

“The award means that my role as a villain in the film has not been hated buteven remembered by the audience,” she said.

After The Law of Heaven, Ngoc Lancontinued to work with VFC in the film TroiBuoc Yeu Thuong (Tied Up with Love).

Besides those two most prestigious awards, the organising committee granted 38gold awards for works of nine categories, the highlight of which are the film Life and Death by two directors Khai Hungand Nguyen Mai Hien of Serial Drama category.

Another gold winner of the same category is the film KeSat Nhan Co Doc (The Lonely Killer) by Ho Chi Minh City Television.

In addition, the organising committee handed out 63 silver awards, 109certificates of merit and 14 excellent works on the subject of ethnicminorities./.