“Long Thanh will lachen”, the German documentary about an Orange Agent/Dioxin victim in Vietnam, is one of eight nominations for the News and Current Affairs category of the Emmy Awards this year.

The International Academy of Television Arts and Sciences made the announcement on August 9, one day ahead the Day for Vietnamese Agent Orange/Dioxin Victims (August 10).

The 28-minute-long documentary, aired last year, was directed by Philipp Abresch, Bureau Chief of the German-based public broadcaster ARD in Singapore.

It tells the story of people exposed to Agent Orange, a highly-toxic defoliant used by the United States troops in Vietnam to kill plants. Forty years later, generations of Vietnamese still suffer from Agent Orange, like 15-year-old Long Thanh. Despite the challenges he faces, he manages to live his life in an admirable way.

According to the documentary, about 3 million Vietnamese live with the effects of the herbicide, including 150,000 children with congenital malformations.

Vietnam has called on the US to take responsibility for the problem but the US Government has rejected direct links between Agent Orange and birth defects.

The eight nominees span six countries, including Brazil, Germany, Malaysia, Qatar, Russia and the UK.

The winners of the Emmy Awards will be announced in New York, the US on September 21.

VNA