Thakin Htein Win’s granddaughter reminisces about the old wooden house where she grew up – a house which was once a meeting place for some of the architects of Burma’s independence movement, in which her grandfather played a pivotal role.

Credits
Director: Shunn Lei Swe Yee, Cinematography: David Kyaw Thet Aung, Sound Recordist: Linn Hnin Aye, Editior: Zaw Win Htwe Project Mentor: Pe Maung Same, Editing Mentor: Melanie Sandford

Biography

Born of a Burmese publisher father and a Shan mother, young English graduate Shunn Lei Swe Yee has been active in a number of youth and development networks. A passionate feminist and co-founder of the ‘Rainfall Gender Study Group’, she claims that one of the reasons she joined Yangon Film School was to learn how to make films that will give a stronger voice to women in Myanmar.

Filmography
2013 My Grandfather’s House (13’45”, director)

This short documentary takes us behind the crumbling façade of one of Yangon’s grand old colonial edifices – known to many as the ‘Lokanat gallery building’ on account of the famous art gallery on the first floor – to meet some of the people who call this place home.

Credits
Director: Cho Phyone, Cinematography: Sandar Linn, Sound Recordist: Sai Nyi Nyi, Editior: Khin Myanmar, Project Mentor: Shin Daewe, Editing Mentor: Melanie Sandford

Biography

Cho Phyone is Shan-Chinese and grew up in Taunggyi in Shan State. After graduating in Public Policy from Yangon’s Dagon University and taking a course in Chinese at the University of Foreign Languages, she started up her own designer fashion business in 2003. Cho Phyone has long been interested in art and photography as well as environmental issues; she sees documentary as a way of alerting audiences to issues that affect their lives.

Filmography
2013 Monsoon Prayer (8’00”, director)
2013 No. 62 Pansodan Street (12:00”, director)

An affectionate portrait of ninety-year-old Indian photographer G. M. Ahuja, who still lives in the once popular photographic studio in downtown Yangon that his father opened almost a century ago.

Credits
Director: Thet Oo Maung, Cinematography: Soy Kyaw Tin Htun, Sound Recordist: Zin Mar Oo, Editior: Thet Su Hlaing, Project Mentor: Pe Maung Same, Editing Mentor: George Cragg

Biography

Business management graduate Thet Oo Maung is of Kayin-Armenian descent. A dedicated humanitarian, self-taught painter, photographer and videographer, he has often used his skills to record the activities of organisations – such as Gahahita, Activista and ActionAid – for whom he has worked or volunteered. His decision to join Yangon Film School was motivated by his desire to improve his filmmaking abilities and so support Myanmar’s transition. Besides continuing to make his own films, he now works as YFS School Manager.

Filmography
2013 Cries and Whispers (08’00”, director)
2013 The Old Photographer (14’45”, director)

A couple and their new baby in an old Yangon apartment. A film that deliberately blurs the boundaries between documentary and fiction.

Credits
Director: Thet Oo Maung, Cinematography: Soy Kyaw Tin Htun, Sound Recordist: Zin Mar Oo, Editior: Thet Su Hlaing, Project Mentor: Tiha Thwe, Editing Mentor: George Cragg

Biography

Business management graduate Thet Oo Maung is of Kayin-Armenian descent. A dedicated humanitarian, self-taught painter, photographer and videographer, he has often used his skills to record the activities of organisations – such as Gahahita, Activista and ActionAid – for whom he has worked or volunteered. His decision to join Yangon Film School was motivated by his desire to improve his filmmaking abilities and so support Myanmar’s transition. Besides continuing to make his own films, he now works as YFS School Manager.

Filmography
2013 Cries and Whispers (08’00”, director)
2013 The Old Photographer (14’45”, director)

Insein Rhythm is a humorously edited portrait of the sights, sounds and rhythms of Yangon’s Insein railway station – but a stone’s throw from the country’s infamous Insein prison.

Credits

Director: Soe Moe Aung, Camera: Han Lin Thwin, Sound: Nu Nu Hlaing, Editor: Kyaw Myo Lwin, Project Mentor: Lay Thida, Editing Mentor: George Cragg

Biography

Soe Moe Aung hails from Hmawbi, a town about 30 kilometers northwest of Myanmar’s former capital of Yangon. An audio technician and radio announcer, he has worked for a number of local stations and also writes drama for radio. He attended a film course in India’s New Delhi before being accepted to the Yangon Film School (YFS) in 2012. Made during a YFS workshop, Insein Rhythm marks his first short documentary.

Filmography

2011 Behind the Mask (7’35”, director)
2012 The Painter (3’20”, director)
2013 Insein Rhythm (10’45”, director)

Festival Screenings
April 2013 WORLD PREMIERE at Vision Du Réel International Film Festival, Nyon, Switzerland

YFS filmmaker Shin Daewe wins Best Documentary Award at Freedom Film Festival in
Yangon for her film A Bright Future!

YFS long term Tutor Tuula Mehtonen was honored with the APOLLO AWARD at DOCPOINT Helsinki Documentary Film Festival in January 2013!

Young filmmaker Seng Mai wins Second Best South East Asian Short Documentary Award at ChopShots Film Festival held in Jakarta, Indonesia for her film Social Game in December 2012!

Congratulations to the three of you!

UPCOMING FESTIVAL SCREENINGS

Reelout Queer Film and Video Festival in Kingston, Canada
31 January to 10 February 2013
Burmese Butterfly by Hnin Ei Hlaing

DOCPOINT Helsinki
22 – 27 January 2013
screening
An Untitled Life by Shin Daewe
Like Father Like Son by Pe Maung Same
Burmese Butterfly by Hnin Ei Hlaing
Unreported Story by Lay Thida

International Women’s Film Festival in Seoul, Korea – Asian Spectrum
24-30 May 2013
Koran and Karate by War War Hlaing
Unreported Story by Lay Thida
Hey Girl! by Khin Myo Myatt
Burmeses Butterfly by Hnin Ei Hlaing
The Bag by Thet Su Hlaing
No. 62 Pansodan Street by Cho Phyone

YFS Berlin is moving to a new office

As of Monday 28 January 2013, you can find us at:

Yangon Film School
Alexandrinenstraße 2-3
2.HH Aufgang B
D-10969 Berlin
Tel.: + 49 30 956 14 327

Addresses for Yangon Film School e.V. and our Yangon Office will remain as before.

YFS film Behind The Screen by filmmaker Aung Nwai Htway won the best documentary film award 2012 at the Wathann Film Festival in Yangon, Myanmar.

FESTIVAL SCREENINGS FALL AND WINTER 2012

2012 is a hot fall for YFS films at international film festivals

27-28 October
Copenhagen Freedom Films from Myanmar
Unreported Story
The Bamboo Grove

1-31 October
Official Selection for the Médecins Sans Frontières – Online Film Competition
Burmese Butterfly

3-6 November
Asiana International Short Film Festival (AISFF) International Competition
Sweetie Pie

2-16 November
Mezipatra in Brno and Prague, Czech Republic
Burmese Butterfly

15-17 November
Fidé Les Impatientes Student Documentary Film Festival, Paris, France
Viewing Station
An Untitled Life
Like Father, Like Son
Killing Time
A Million Threads
Peace of Mind

8-11 November
San Francisco Transgender Film Festival
Burmese Butterly

13-18 November
Interfilm – 28th International Short Film Festival Berlin
Burmese Butterfly

16-25 November
World Film Festival Bangkok
WORLD PREMIERE of
Empty Nest
My Family
The Bag

2 December
Tammasat University Bangkok, Thailand
Burmese Butterfly

30 November – 11 December
The Anchorage International Film Festival in Alaska
Burmese Butterfly

5-9 December
ChopShots Documentary Film Festival in Jakarta,
Indonesia
Selected for Short Film Competition SEA BEST SHORTS
Burmese Butterlfy
Sweetie Pie

For full details please go to the following website: http://ajeviewfinder.com/

Our Open Call invites Asian based filmmakers to submit their proposals for participation in our October Documentary Workshop. If your proposal is accepted you will be selected to participate in the Al Jazeera Observational Documentary Workshop. The deadline to receive proposals is 3 August, 2012. The Workshop will be held in October, 2012 in partnership with Asian Network of Documentary. At the conclusion of the workshop, projects that meet our channel’s criteria will be commissioned for broadcast on Al Jazeera.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely, Fiona Lawson-Baker contact: witness@aljazeera.net

For more details click here
 

CALL FOR APPLICANTS

to the DocNet South East Asia’s 2012 Summer School being held in Manila in the Philippines. To read more click here.

Deadline for submission is the 2nd August 2012 and the summer school takes place from 19th to 28th September 2012.

The application form can be downloaded here.

YFS FILM FESTIVAL SCREENING NEWS
 

Burmese Butterfly was screened at the following film festivals in June:

The Frameline 36 San Francisco International LGBT Film Festival in the ‘Transtastic’ program

Director Hnin Ei Hlaing was present for the screening in the San Francisco Victoria Theatre.

The Myanmar Community NetMAA (Network of Myanmar American Association) in the US reported the screening on their website. To read more click here
Burmese Butterfly was also nominated for the Student Doc Award at the Sheffield Doc/Fest
The screening took place on the 15th June at the Odeon cinema in Sheffield, England.
The Sheffield Doc/Fest Videotheque showcased also the YFS short films An Untitled Life, Charcoal Boy and The Change Maker.

Rachel Mathews, YFS tutor, joined the screening of Burmese Butterfly at the festival.
 

Further screenings

Sai Kong Kham attended the Vision du Réel International Documentary Film Festival in Switzerland in April 2012 and celebrated the world premiere of his first short film, Sweetie Pie.
 

A few days later the film screened at the Student Film Festival Sehsuechte in Potsdam, Germany in the presence of the director Sai Kong Kham.

The 9th International Ethno Film Festival – The Heart of Slavonia took place in Djakovo, Croatia between 26th and 29th June.

Nominated for the Golden Heart of Slavonia were:

An Untitled Life by Shin Daewe
Charcoal Boy by Okkar
Sweetie Pie by Sai Kong Kham

The Village Doc Film Festival in Milan, Italy screened the environmental films Our Forests, Our Future by YFS film student Zin Myoe Sett and A Farmer’s Tale by YFS student Lay Thida on June 2nd.