RADIO/AUDIO DRAMA WINNER
Japan Broadcasting Corporation (NHK)
Japan
Beautiful Shoes
A standout entry in storytelling, this drama draws the listener in with subtlety and emotional depth, avoiding excess while delivering a compelling narrative. The sound design is exceptionally visual and immersive, with voice acting and effects that enhance rather than distract. Tackling the issue of counterfeit sneakers with sincerity and originality, it cleverly uses a familiar setting to provoke thought on value, pride, and survival. Its polished production and layered themes reflect a refined sensibility reminiscent of Japanese audio drama traditions.
RADIO/AUDIO PODCAST WINNER
Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)
Australia
The Last Voyage of the Rainbow Warrior
This podcast demonstrates a high level of narrative craftsmanship, engaging the listener from the outset with a compelling one-on-one storytelling approach and a well-paced delivery. The production offers a powerful and factually grounded account of the Greenpeace ship’s final mission in Auckland Harbour, effectively linking historical events to the broader consequences of nuclear testing in the Marshall Islands. While the sound design is modest, the use of music transitions and authentic voice performances contribute meaningfully to the overall impact, with the narrator handling a complex subject with clarity and poise. This is a thoughtfully executed and accessible production that brings an important, often overlooked issue to life with integrity and resonance.
RADIO/AUDIO DOCUMENTARY WINNER
Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB)
Iran
silent teacher
This is a deeply moving and courageous documentary that explores the culturally sensitive topic of body donation within Islamic traditions with exceptional care and nuance. Through a personal and reflective narrative, it bridges the gap between long-standing religious beliefs and the modern realities of medical science. The production challenges stigma by inviting listeners to reconsider deeply held assumptions, opening space for dialogue and understanding around a rarely discussed issue. Strong sound design and authentic voices enhance the emotional impact, while the structure guides the audience through both personal and societal dimensions of the story. It is a polished, thought-provoking piece that leaves a lasting impression through its integrity, empathy, and cultural insight.
RADIO/AUDIO NEWS REPORTING WINNER
Radio Republik Indonesia (RRI))
Indonesia
Water Ambulance, A Glimpse into The Battle Kampung Laut Been Through
This is an outstanding piece of news reporting that brings critical attention to the challenges of accessing healthcare in remote regions of Indonesia. The journalist’s decision to report directly from a water ambulance adds authenticity and immediacy, offering listeners a vivid understanding of the realities faced by these communities. Strong scripting, well-chosen sources, and immersive sound design contribute to a well-structured and informative report that raises public awareness. By addressing a domestic issue with global relevance, this story exemplifies the power of on-location journalism to inform, engage, and inspire.
RADIO/AUDIO COMMUNITY SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT WINNER
The Voice of Vietnam (VOV)
Vietnam
The Bitterness of Belated Regret
This is a powerful and emotionally resonant community service announcement that addresses the urgent issue of child marriage with clarity and conviction. The dramatic presentation is used effectively to convey the emotional toll on both children and parents, while the clear call to action reinforces the message. Strong voice performances and well-crafted sound design help create a compelling and memorable listening experience. By presenting multiple perspectives and highlighting the human cost, this production raises vital public awareness and encourages meaningful reflection on child rights and protection.
RADIO/AUDIO ON-AIR PERSONALITY WINNER
China Media Group-China National Radio (CMG-CNR)
China
Love in the Airwaves: My Storytelling Journey on “Little Trumpet”
The announcer is highly versatile, able to effectively deliver the news, perform narrations, and DJ with equal skill. Her way of communicating with children is particularly interesting and engaging. The conversations are well-executed, and her originality shines through in every interaction. Her creative approach keeps her successful and ensures she stands out in her field.
RADIO/AUDIO ABU PERSPECTIVE AWARD WINNER
China Media Group-China National Radio (CMG-CNR)
China
Three Fateful Encounters
This is an extraordinary and emotionally resonant production that tells the inspiring story of Dr. Guo Xiaoping and his unwavering support for young patients living with HIV. Through the journey of Cuicui—from facing discrimination to becoming a teacher and mentor—the program beautifully illustrates the transformative power of compassion, resilience, and hope. With masterful sound design, a superb script, and a clear message, the production challenges stigma and encourages understanding and empathy toward people living with HIV. A deeply moving and solutions-focused story, this is a shining example of audio storytelling at its most impactful.
RADIO/AUDIO SPECIAL JURY PRIZES WINNER
China Media Group-China National Radio (CMG-CNR)
China
I’ll Always Be a Storyteller
Through the inspiring story of Xiong Zhuying, this podcast powerfully underscores the importance of protecting and preserving intangible cultural heritage in contemporary China, particularly in the digital era. Beautifully structured, this production begins with an online game that catapults Xiong to fame, then follows him through a series of insightful interviews. The thoughtful curation of sound bites, seamless musical transitions and the weaving of Xiong’s journey as a traditional storyteller, results in a compelling listener experience.
TV/SCREEN DRAMA WINNER
Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen (ZDF)
Germany
Rosenthal: The Great Showman
Based on a true story: Germany’s most popular TV presenter in the 1970’s must face his traumatic past – and that of the whole country.
Germany, 1978. Hans Rosenthal is the country’s most popular TV presenter, and, what few people know: he is Jewish and a Holocaust survivor. The 75th edition of his beloved live game show is about to be broadcast, but the celebratory mood is dampened by the air date: November 9.
Exactly 40 years after the Nazi pogrom against the Jewish population, Hans is expected to entertain and distract an audience of millions with his harmless TV show, rather than attend the first official German memorial for the victims.
Hans finds himself in a moral dilemma: Has the Jewish showman become himself a henchman of repression? Or will he find the strength to address his family trauma?
TV/SCREEN DOCUMENTARY WINNER
The Japan Commercial Broadcasters Association-Nagoya Broadcasting Network (JBA-NBN)
Japan
Running Out of Time-A Doctor’s Dilemma
Chihiro Kubota, 9-years-old, is a patient of “neuroblastoma,” a cancer that develops in nerve cells, who came to Nagoya University Hospital from Saitama Prefecture for treatment.
She has been receiving treatment since she was three years old and was once discharged from the hospital. However, she was told that her disease had “relapsed” during the summer vacation of her third year of elementary school. Chihiro is considered to be in a high-risk group where neuroblastoma is difficult to cure, and if the cancer recurs, there is no treatment available in Japan. An effective new drug was found in Italy, and Chihiro and her family decided to receive treatment there.
Yui Takahashi, 6-years-old, is also receiving treatment at Nagoya University Hospital, who is also a high-risk group of neuroblastoma, but was unable to go to Italy.
Yoshiyuki Takahashi is the doctor who supervises the two children. He is researching a drug similar to that used in Italy, but there are many obstacles to administering it to patients in Japan.
Through our interviews with Dr. Takahashi and two children, we try to portray the “running out of time” that exists in the latest medical treatments depending on the country.
TV/SCREEN CHILDREN WINNER
Korean Broadcasting System (KBS)
Republic of Korea
Dr. Egg’s Animal Files: Crawly and Cute
Did you know there are other students in school besides us? On the swing set, seesaw, jungle gym, and even the schoolyard—tiny creatures are right there playing with us. At first glance, it looks like there’s nothing there. But if you look closely, you’ll discover a whole miniature world of insects living in every corner of the school.
Biology creators Dr. Egg and Dr. Woong visit an elementary school to explore this hidden world, joined by curious children. From old trees and vegetable gardens to cracks in the school buildings and rocks in the playground, they find tiny lives coexisting with us.
Children participate in interactive games—mimicking insects like mosquitoes and grasshoppers, identifying them through body movement, and assembling lunch trays for the insect students based on what they eat. Through fun activities like treasure hunts and roleplay, kids learn to observe the world around them and appreciate the wonder of life.
The joy of discovering small lives hidden in plain sight leads children to recognize the value of life—including their own.
This episode of Dr. Egg’s Animal Files, titled “Insect Students in My School,” offers a fun and eye-opening journey into the small but mighty world of bugs at school.
TV/SCREEN NEWS REPORTING WINNER
Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB)
Islamic Republic of Iran
Attack on IRIB by Israeli missiles
The report shows the attack on the IRIB building by Israeli forces. The target of this aggression was the newsroom, the journalists, news reporters, and the President of IRIB, who were located in the Glass Building in the center of the IRIB complex. During this attack, some news reporters were killed and others were seriously injured, while the building was burnt and destroyed. Nevertheless, IRIB continued its live broadcasting and aired its programs without any pause or interruption through other media buildings and studios by its own capabilities.
TV/SCREEN ENTERTAINMENT WINNER
Jiangsu Broadcasting Corporation (JSBC)
China
“Reading on the Island” (Season 3)
“Reading on the Island” is an engaging documentary-style reading TV program produced by Jiangsu Broadcasting Corporation Satellite TV of China, in partnership with Today’s Headline App. Launched in 2022, it returned for its second season in 2023 and its third season in 2024.
The program invites authors, publishers, and avid readers to serene islands, offering a retreat from the urban hustle. In this natural setting, participants embark on journeys of exploration—living amidst nature, diving into their favorite books, and engaging in enriching discussions. Esteemed writers such as Mo Yan, Yu Hua, Su Tong, and Xi Chuan have graced the program as guests during its first three seasons.
After three seasons on air, the show’s impact has been remarkable. It has garnered widespread admiration from both television and online audiences. Leading national Thursday night ratings, the third season reached over 10 billion online views. On Douban, China’s leading review platform, the program earned a rating of over 9.0. Reading on the Island has achieved outstanding reach, strong data metrics, and widespread critical acclaim.
TV/SCREEN SPORTS WINNER
The Japan Commercial Broadcasters Association-Kansai Television (JBA-KTV)
Japan
Honami Maeda: A Life of Running
A documentary following Honami Maeda, a Japanese record holder in the marathon and a representative for the 2021 Tokyo and 2024 Paris Olympics.
We began filming Honami Maeda in 2016. At the time, she was 20 years old and not well-known as a runner. In the subsequent eight years, she became a Japanese representative for the Tokyo Olympics. In 2024, she broke the Japanese women’s marathon record (which is also the Asian record) for the first time in 19 years, simultaneously qualifying as a Japanese representative for the Paris Olympics.
She once said, “My dream is to run in the Olympics.” In 2019, she became a Japanese representative for the Tokyo Olympics, and her dream should have come true. However, the one-year postponement of the Olympics due to the COVID-19 pandemic broke her mind and body, preventing her from performing at her best in the Tokyo Olympics.
The feeling of “not having truly run in the Olympics” pushed her towards Paris. Yet, repeated injuries and defeats in selection races deeply wounded her spirit. Eventually, she stopped uttering the word “Olympics,” referring to it only as “A-RE (=that).” This indicated a goal known only to her and a desire to purely confront running.
This documentary will unravel the reasons why she became a top Japanese runner and delve into her unique obsession and passion for running. Through the eyes of the director, who has continued to follow her for eight years, we will see the true face of Honami Maeda.
TV/SCREEN ABU PERSPECTIVE AWARD WINNER
Shanghai Media Group (SMG)
China
The Forever Walk: China (People of Story)
In this captivating documentary, National Geographic explorer Paul Salopek completes the China leg of his epic Out of Eden Walk — a decade-long journey tracing the ancient pathways of human migration on foot from Africa to the tip of South America.
Spanning over 6,700 kilometers across China, Salopek’s trek culminates amid the snow-laden landscapes of the northeast, before reaching a poignant conclusion at the country’s eastern seaboard. Along the way, he revisits moments from his walk across China’s vast and varied terrain — from remote mountain villages and Silk Road outposts to megacities pulsing with modern ambition.
Through his deliberate pace and deep engagement with people and place, the documentary reveals a rare, ground-level portrait of contemporary China, layered with memory, history, and quiet insight.
This is slow journalism at its finest — where walking becomes a form of storytelling, and every step is a search for the universal threads that bind humanity across cultures, geographies, and time.
TV/SCREEN SPECIAL JURY PRIZE WINNER
Japan Broadcasting Corporation (NHK)
Japan
Run Against Time: The Snowman Race in Bhutan
Focusing on an ambitious mountain foot race, held to call for urgent action against “global boiling,” this documentary highlights the little-known fact that global warming is destroying Bhutan’s way of life. The powerful, unedited words of the runners—who immersed themselves in the harsh Himalayan wilderness and witnessed the crisis looming over it—raise awareness and inspire behavioral change.
DIGITAL CONTENT AWARD WINNER
China Media Group-China Global Television Network (CMG-CGTN)
China
Ask Confucius
“ASK CONFUCIUS” is an innovative cultural communication product developed by CGTN, leveraging artificial intelligence and large language model technology. Deeply integrating the core philosophical ideas of “The Analects of Confucius,” the product draws from the “Confucius Teaching” painting at the Confucius Temple in Qufu, Shandong Province, and the bronze statue of Confucius at Nishan Sacred Land as design prototypes. Using advanced AI image modeling, it creates a lifelike digital representation of “AI Confucius.”
Through the integration of intelligent voice interaction, micro-expression simulation, dynamic visual presentation and large language model processing, the system digitally recreates the historical sage, enabling global users to engage in real-time, cross-temporal dialogue with Confucius.
As an innovative approach to the international dissemination of Chinese culture, the interactive product includes four core content sections: insights from global thought leaders on Confucius, anecdotes from his life, an AI Confucius livestream, and readings from classic texts such as the “Analects.” Together, these offer users a multi-dimensional and immersive experience of Confucian culture.