A new prize will be up for grabs at this year’s Banff World Television Festival, which, in collaboration with Japanese public broadcaster NHK, will award $20,000 to the producer of a TV show with an Asian theme.

The winner of the NHK Best Asian Program Prize, recognizing shows from or about the continent, will be announced at the fest’s annual awards ceremony in June. The deadline for submissions is Jan. 31.

‘We couldn’t ask for a better partner in launching this new program,’ commented Banff executive director Jennifer Harkness in a release, referring to NHK as an ‘advocate for Asian program-making around the world.’

‘Program-making in and about Asia can be extremely challenging and, at the same time, extremely interesting. That’s why we want to celebrate these programs,’ added NHK’s head of international program development Fumio Narashima.

The Banff fest runs June 8-11.