HIV Film Wins Burma’s Oscar

A topical film about people living with the HIV virus won the prize for best Burmese picture at Burma’s equivalent of the US Academy Awards on Thursday night.

Burma’s version of the best picture Oscar went to “Hmyaw-lint-gyin-myar-swar” (“With much hope”), while its director, Maung Myo Min (Yin Twin Phyit), won the best director award.

Nanda Hlaing won the best actress award and Yan Aung was chosen best actor.

Eight of the 11 films produced in Burma last year won awards. In 2005, 11 of the 16 films made that year garnered awards.

The awards were presented for the second consecutive year in Burma’s new capital,
Naypyidaw.

In a speech at the awards ceremony, Information Minister Brig-Gen Kyaw Hsan called for the adoption of digital filmmaking in order to penetrate lucrative foreign markets.

Critics point out that Burma’s film industry is in the doldrums, with very few profitable films, cinemas struggling to survive and artistic standards at an all-time low. Actor, comedian and social critic Zarganar said: "First priority should be focused on how we can improve the quality of Burmese films. There are fewer and fewer moviegoers in the cinemas." 

The Burmese movie industry has a long history dating back to the 1910s. In its heyday, about 80 movies were produced annually, some of them jointly with foreign production companies.