Myanmar's micro film competition to cultivate young directors

The Myanmar Youth Micro Film Contest Public Show is held in the Maha Bandoola Park in central Yangon between Feb. 23 and 25, 2018. Award-winning directors take questions on Feb. 24, 2018. [Photo: China Plus/Tu Yun]

The organizers of a micro movie competition in Myanmar have staged a public show of short films in Yangon, hoping to help cultivate the next generation of directors.

CRI's Myanmar correspondent Tu Yun has more.

Now in its fourth year, the annual Myanmar Youth Micro Film Contest has received hundreds of entries.

A leading child actress is taking questions when the organizers of the Myanmar Youth Micro Film Contest stage a public show in Yangon on Feb. 24, 2018. [Photo: China Plus/Tu Yun]

Last weekend, the organizers put up a silver screen in a park in central Yangon, showing award-winning works and some of the shortlisted micro movies to the public.

"I think these films are better than what's on the movie theatres right now. These kids are making better movies than what's been made by professional moviemakers in Myanmar."

"In France, we don't have this (kind of) (open-air movie show) event. This movie is very incredible and perfect for me."

"I think these were made by young people. They are really good. I actually don't think they are amateurs. I think they are pro."

First held in 2015, the Myanmar Youth Micro Film Contest is the country's first nationwide competition featuring movies with a duration of no more than five minutes.

Spectators are watching award-winning micro movies at the Myanmar Youth Micro Film Contest Public Show held in the Maha Bandoola Park in central Yangon on Feb. 24, 2018. [Photo: China Plus/Tu Yun]

Zin Wine is President of the Myanmar Motion Picture Organization, one of the organizers.

"Micro-film competitions are very popular around the world. As a national event, our competition has many advantages when compared to other similar ones, such as unrestricted subjects, high bonuses and so on. It's very helpful for developing Myanmar's film industry and cultivating a new generation of young directors."

Spectators are watching award-winning micro movies at the Myanmar Youth Micro Film Contest Public Show held in the Maha Bandoola Park in central Yangon on Feb. 24, 2018. [Photo: China Plus/Tu Yun]

36-year-old director Myat Kyaw Thu Nyein, whose film "Where the stream of Love leads to" won second prize last year, has been invited to attend a micro film festival to be held in China starting on Thursday.

"The scene in my movie of Myanmar people wearing traditional dresses sitting around with their family members and having meals together, all eating from one big platter, is quite unique. If I can show this to foreign audience at an international film festival, I'll be much more thrilled than when I won the prize."

This year's Myanmar Youth Micro Film Contest is expected to be held in June.

For CRI, I'm Tu Yun reporting in Yangon.