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Tyres (2013)

Tyres

Synopsis

A tyre recycling workshop in South Okkalapa in Myanmar's former capital of Yangon is a site of multiple uses and multiple deaths, for this is the place where defunct tyres are transformed from their original shape and use, and are reborn into new and completely different lives. Filmed almost entirely in black-and-white, this observational documentary gently explores a community of tyre cutters and recyclers, young and old, male and female, as they create with their super-sharp blades, careful eyes and skilful strokes, buckets, brushes and slippers from discarded rubber tyres. And, from time to time, in fleeting yet visceral moments in between their movements, snatched conversation and song, something lyrical, even philosophical emerges, and we are gently reminded of how every death gives way to a birth.

Director's Biography

Editor and director Kyaw Myo Lwin began his career at Yangon Film School (YFS) in 2007. He has since worked as sound recordist and/or editor on many YFS and other productions, including a film about trauma healing after Cyclone Nargis called Hidden Wounds and the short documentary Insein Rhythm. Having premiered at Nyon in Switzerland, this wordless film soon became a festival favourite, as did his directorial debut Tyres – a sumptuously photographed black-and-white observation of a community of tyre recyclers in Yangon which premiered at IDFA in the Netherlands. Silent Talker was his second documentary as director.

Awards & Nominations

November, 2015
Film Southasia – Festival of Southasian Cinema
Best Student Film Award
Kathmandu, Nepal
October, 2015
12th Jeevika: Asia Livelyhood Documentary Festival
Best Cinematography Award for Jeevika
New Delhi, India
June, 2015
RAI – International Festival of Ethnographic Film
Material Culture Film Prize
Bristol, Germany
February, 2015
FIFE International Student Film Festival Paris
Best Student Documentary Award
Paris, France
June, 2014
Palm Springs International Short Film Festival
Best Student Documentary Short
USA
June, 2014
Palm Springs International Short Film Festival
Best Student Cinematography
USA
October, 2015
BIFED Bozcaada International Festival of Ecological Documentary
Nomination for Gaia Student Film Award
Bozcaada, Turkey
October, 2014
11. Filmfest Eberswalde
Nomination for Best Documentary under 45 min.
Eberswalde, Germany
May, 2014
Green Film Festival in Seoul
Nomination for Green Competition Award
Seoul, Korea

Screenings

May, 2017
Freiburger Filmforum
Freiburg, Germany
May, 2016
Laborday Filmfest
Antalya, Turkey
December, 2015
41st International Environmental Film Festival EKOFILM
Brno, Czech Republic
March, 2015
Ahvaz International Science Film Festival
Ahvaz, Iran
November, 2014
Saint Louis International Film Festival
Saint Louis, Missouri, USA
October, 2014
World Film Festival Bangkok
Bangkok, Thailand
November, 2013
IDFA
International Premiere
Amsterdam, Netherlands
September, 2013
Wathann Film Fest #3
World Premiere
Yangon, Myanmar

Director's Filmography

2014

Director/Editor

14‘8‘‘

2013

10‘45‘‘

2013
Tyres

Director

32‘57‘‘

2010

17‘36‘‘

Pictures

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Tyres