Motion Picture Academy Awards for 2019, 2020 and 2022 presented; SAC Vice Chairman Deputy Prime Minister Vice-Senior General Soe Win addresses ceremony
NAY PYI TAW May 6
Motion Picture Academy Awards for 2019, 2020 and 2022 were presented at Open Air Theatre near Nay Pyi Taw Town Hall this evening with an address by Vice Chairman of State Administration Council Deputy Prime Minister Vice-Senior General Soe Win.
Present together with the Vice-Senior General were his wife Daw Than Than Nwe, the Joint Secretary and wife, SAC members and wives, union level officials and wives, union ministers and wives, the Nay Pyi Taw Council chairman and wife, Chief of General Staff (Army, Navy and Air) General Maung Maung Aye and wife, senior military officers from the Office of the Commander-in-Chief and wives, the Nay Pyi Taw Command commander, deputy ministers, patrons, chairman and members of Myanmar Motion Picture Asiayon, Myanmar Press Council chair, chairs and members of Myanmar Thabin and Music Asisayons, Myanmar Motion Picture Academy Awards Selection Committee members, intellectuals, intelligentsia and artists of motion picture, literature, thabin and music fields, officials and distinguished guests.
Vocalists sang songs to the accompaniment of the MRTV music band. Master of ceremoniesintroduced the ushers individually.
The Vice-Senior General and party cordially greeted by Union Minister for Information U Maung Maung Ohn and MMPA Chairman U Kyi Soe Tun and officials.
Union Minister for Information U Maung Maung Ohn and MMPA Chairman U Kyi Soe Tun, winner of academy awards, erected and formatted an academy award statue through digital mapping.
A video clip “from centenary onward” was presented by MRTV and IPRD in honour of the ceremony.
In his address, the Vice-Senior General expressed pleasure to organize the academy award presentation ceremony in Nay Pyi Taw on a grand scale after a two-year absence due to COVID-19. He said the age of Myanmar motion pictures reached 100 years in 2020, and now it is 103 years old. Normally, film is a wonderful art formed by mental images and technology.
Filming is an art that arouses social awareness and that enriches the minds through artistic value. It is a combination of literature, music, drama, painting,sculpture and photography.
The Myanmar film industry deserves honor for its service in the national interest for over 100 years. It is dutiful to the people and country by providing entertainment in various forms and portraying the vital sectors and objective conditions of the country throughout the successive eras till now.
Preservation of traditional culture is one of the factors for national development. Movies are also a part of culture. If a developing film industry is the national strength, we can imagine the important role of the people of the movie world.
The adopted social objectives include the point “To respect and promote the customs and traditions of all national peoples and preserve and safeguard their faiths, culture and national characteristics based on national spirit” This objective stands witness to the government’s serious efforts towards protecting and preserving the culture and national characteristics of the people. Participation of the people of the film industry is of vital importance in realizing the objective. The power of movies is vitally important as they portray the value of culture. It has the soft power over peace, unity and progress. So people of the profession should play their role in collectively striving for development of the race and flourishing of patriotism. The government is implementing the two visions “national prosperity and food sufficiency” that meet the nation’s objective conditions and that are the most suitable goals. They are practical and the most important needs for daily lives of the people. Movie professionals are creating movies under the slogan “movies are for the people.” Collective involvement in realizing the said goals amounts to implementing the slogan practically. Hence, movie artists should lend a helping hand with correct vision and thought and goodwill in the interest of the nation and people.
I would like to urge you all to cooperate with the government to achieve two national objectives and two political objectives out of goodwill based on correct ideologies and knowledge in the interests of the future of the country and the majority of the people as people who are trying to march forward.
Art is always youthful and it is the art of making films that can especially create all sorts of aesthetic values by united efforts. Unlike literature, music, performing arts, painting, sculpture and photography, can motion pictures instill in moviegoers who watch films for a limited period of time various kinds of feelings such as happiness, pleasure, sadness, fear, anger, greed, ignorance and worries only when producers, novelists, screenplay writers, actors and actresses, supporting actors and actresses, extras, cinematographers, sound technicians, musicians, editors, cameramen, lighting technicians, shooting managers and transport operators make concerted efforts.
To this end, artists and film technicians are required to always study artistic tasks, which have developed from time to time and create films, which international standards in the future. In doing so, it is necessary for artists and film technicians to preserve and protect national cultural characteristics on the other hand.
I hope that artists and film technicians will be able to carry out their artistic work without bias by focusing on the art of film making, to which lives of artists have been devoted to, and appreciating the love of beloved fan in the struggle for daily life and preservation of traditions and culture.
97 movies were released in 2019, 21 in 2020 and 20 in 2022, and awards will be presented to the persons who deserve. The ceremony shows the unity of the movie world. Moreover, the industry is in the limelight again after a pause due to COVID-19.
In other words, it can be said that the time has come for the film industry to revive. The academy award presentation ceremony marks the revival not only of the film industry but also of the theatre, music and performing arts industries.
It is not wrong to say that the ceremony is a one that is concerned with all members in the film industry. It is believed that all organizations from film, music, theatre and literature industries will continue to happily and concertedly work energetically in their respective fields as usual after the ceremony.
The Myanmar film industry has produced more than 4,000 movies during the period from its early age to 2022. Academy award presentation ceremonies were held for 63 times from 1952 to 2018. Today's ceremony is the 64th academy award presentation ceremony, which is held for three years including 2019, 2020 and 2022. A total of 423 academy awards for performing art and techniques were presented until the 63rd academy award presentation ceremony, which was held in 2018 and as life long outstanding academy awards could be presented in 2022 to two artistes who have devoted their lives to the industry to serve the public through their performing art, a total of 425 academy awards including five life-long outstanding academy awards have been presented.
In retrospect, the history of the Myanmar film industry can be divided into the silver jubilee period (1920-1945), the gold jubilee period (1946-1970), the diamond jubilee period (1971-1995), the centenary period and the postcentenary period. As the silver jubilee period (1920-1945) was the early age of the industry and coincided with the time when the country was colonized by another country, it was the period when entire national people were struggling against colonialists by mobilizing the public through their literature, music, performing arts and theatrical arts out of patriotism, antislavery spirit, antiaggression pride and the courage of repellency.
The silver jubilee period, in which the industry mobilized the people to fight against colonialists, to regain independence and sovereignty, to liberate the entire people and to sacrifice for the country out of bravery, could be recorded as the heyday of the Myanmar film industry in its history.
Similarly, artistes, technicians and members of the industry served the interests of the country and the people through their artistic performance during the gold jubilee period, the diamond jubilee period and the centenary period and entertained the public with their artistic performance. In addition to entertaining the public, the industry has been able to depict Myanmar culture, lovely traditions and natural beauties of the country and has participated in mobilizing and informing the public for the national development in successive eras until now.
Members of the industry have produced films for propagation of national patriotism, development of wisdom of the people and preservation of Myanmar culture and they are the ones who have played in stories and plots which will serve the interests of the people through their artistic performance to highlight the objectives of the country in successive eras from various points of view.
All cinema halls in the country were shut down in 2020 due to COVID-19 outbreak across the world and cinema halls have been reopened in accordance with COVID-19 restriction since Myanmar New Year on 17 April, 2022 thanks to efforts of the Ministry of Information, the Myanmar Motion Pictures Organization and film producers.
I am glad to learn that the number of moviegoers has increased although the situation has not returned to normal.
As it can be seen that leaders of film industry, artistes, film siblings and movie enthusiasts are happy to join the ceremony, it is felt that feelings of peace and happiness can be shared to the public thanks to the united strength of the government, the people and artistes.
As Myanmar Motion Pictures Organization, after scrutinizing films in accordance with academy criteria, will present academy awards this evening, it is believed that artistes and technicians who played their respective artistic roles in films and film lovers will be excited.
As one of the distinctive features of this year’s ceremony, not only academy awards but also the best costume award, which is presented in the international film industry, will be conferred on the winner. The award is offered at the ceremony to honour the artistes who have attended the ceremony. It is believed that making such arrangements for distinctive features will concur with the will of the film artistes and movie lovers.
It is also believed that academy award winning artistes this year will be able to acquire strength to achieve greater success and to exert more efforts in the industry.
On the other hand, I would like to urge all to continue to serve the interests of the people in accordance with the objective of creating films for the people out of goodwill for development of the country, the spirit of good citizens who respect the law and the patriotism for the people and the country.
Similarly, I hope artistes who have not won academy awards will win ones in the future by enhancing their artistic performance.
I appreciate the media sector including film, literature, performing art, music, painting and sculpture industries. It is also believed that they will be a force that serves the interests of the country and the people through their fine arts. It is known to all that the needs of artistes and media persons have been fulfilled as much as possible during the assumption of duties by the SAC. Plans are underway to continue to support them. I would like to urge all to serve the interests of the country and the people in accordance with the fine historical tradition of The Fourth Estate or the media sector including the film industry.
I would like to honour and thank the Myanmar Motion Picture Organization and responsible officials for their cooperation with the government to successfully organize the academy award presentation ceremony on a grand scale.
Then, Chairman of the Myanmar Motion Picture Organization winner of academy awards U Kyi Soe Tun spoke words of pleasure.
Afterwards, attendees were entertained with academy signature rendition performed jointly by the Fine Arts Department of the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Culture and the MMPO.
Then, the master of ceremony explained the scrutinizing tasks of films and award categories for the academy award presentation ceremony for 2019, 2020 and 2021.
After that, the winners of the Myanmar Motion Picture Academy Award were announced for individual winners by the artists and the awards were given. The Best Cinematography Award (2019) was won by U Arkar Toe for the film “Legend of the Rain” and the Best Cinematography Award (2020) was won by U Phyo Kyaw for the film “Music Performed by Padauk.”
The Best Film Music Award (2019) was won by U Kyaw Kyaw Tun for the film “The Milk Ogre” and the Best Film Music Award (2020) was won by U Aung Ko
Latt for the film “Gandhabba.” The Best Film Sound Award (2019) was won by U Kyi Min Thein for the film “1014.”, The Best Film Editing Award (2019) was won by U G-3 and U Kyaw Khaing Soe for the film “1014” and the Best Film Editing Award (2022) was won by U Kyi Thar for the film “The Butterfly Trap.”
The Best Screenplay Award (2019) was won by U Maung Myat Swe for the film “Responsible Citizen.”
Veteran academy awardwinning artists presented the award winners with outstanding awards, and the award winners expressed their gratitude.
After that, as a special program, the Best Myanmar Academy Fashion Awards selected for the artists who attended this year’s ceremony were presented.
Veteran winner of academies Daw Swe Zin Htike presented the awards to U Yan Aung, who won the Best Myanmar Academy Fashion Award for veteran actors, Daw Soe Myat Thuzar, who won the Best Myanmar Academy Fashion Award for veteran actresses, U Aung Ye Lin, who won the Best Myanmar Academy FashionvAward for actors, and Daw Moe Hay Ko, who won the Best Myanmar Academy Fashion Award for actresses.
Next, winners of the Myanmar Motion Picture Academy Award were announced for individual winners by the union minister for information and veteran artists and the winners were presented with the awards.
Music Performed by Padauk won The Best Film Award (2020) and Waymanaychinbu (Don’t Want To Be Away From You) won the Best Film Award (2022).
The special award for Best Dress Award (2020) was won by Daw Htay Htay Tin and team for the film “Karmaphala (Fruits of the Actions.)”.
The Best Film Director Award (2020) was won by Director Mee Pwar for the film “Music Performed by Padauk.”
The Best Supporting Actress Award (2019) was won by Khin Wint War for the film “Hlatwyailwintthaw” and the Best Supporting Actress Award (2020) was won by May Thinzar Oo for the film “Golden Princess” while the Best Supporting Actor Award (2019) was won by Shwe Htoo for the film “Legend of the Rain” and the Best Supporting Actor Award (2020) was won by Ohn Thee for “Thaung Tike Ka Kyar Say Thar.
The Best Actress Award (2019) was won by Eaindra Kyaw Zin for the film “Hit Taing”, the Best Actress Award (2020) was won by Soe Pyae Thain for the film “Golden Princess” and the Best Actress Award (2022) was won by Shwe Hmon Yati for the film “Don’t Want To Be Away From You.”.
Union Minister U Maung Maung Ohn and veteran academy award winning artists presented the award winners with the outstanding awards to winners, who expressed their gratitude then.
The Vice - Senior General presented awards to Myint Myat, who won the Best Actor Award (2019) for the film “Tears Shed on Yoma”, Sai Sai Kham Leng, who won the Best Actor Award (2020) for the film “Music Performed by Padauk” and Pyay Te Oo, who won the Best Actor Award (2022) for the film “The Butterfly Trap.”
The Union Minister for Information and veteran academy award-winning artists presented the award winners with outstanding awards, and the awardwinners expressed their gratitude.
While the awards were being presented, artists from the Myanmar Music Association, the Myanmar Film Association and the Myanmar Drama Association take turns performing.
After that, the SAC Vice Chairman and members took a photo together with the winners of Myanmar Film Excellence Awards and they warmly greeted experts, professionals and artists from film, literature, drama and music sectors.
In 2021, movies were not screened due to the Covid-19 disease, but starting from April 2022, movies were screened again, and by the end of the year, 20 movies were screened.
A total of 97 Myanmar films that were screened in 2019, 21 Myanmar films that were screened in 2020 and 20 Myanmar films that were screened in 2022 were evaluated step by step by the Myanmar Motion Picture Academy Award judging panel, and the best films were selected and presented with awards.
Since 1952, the Myanmar Motion Picture Academy Award has been awarded and only Best Picture Award, Best Actor Award and Best Actress Award were awarded. In Best Picture Award, Golden Canary statue was awarded as the first prize for the film, Silver peacock as the second prize, Bronze lion statue as the third prize, and only gold brooches were awarded for the Best Actor Award and Best Actress Award. Starting with the 1957 Academy Awards, the format of the awards was changed, and all awards were given with golden canaries.
More academy awards were given year by year and the Best Director Award in 1954, the Special Award in 1955, the Best Cinematography Award in 1956, the Best Supporting Actor Award and the Best Supporting Actress Award in 1962, the Best Screenplay Award, the Best Film Award and the Best Music Award in in 1990. There had been 10 types of Myanmar Motion Picture Academy Award,
and in 1994, the Best Editing Award has also been awarded, bringing the number of awards to 11 types.
The Myanmar Motion Picture Academy Award ceremonies held from 1952 to the 2018, 208 artists and professionals were given awards, including one award winner of the 7 academy awards, 4 award winners of the 6 academy awards, 7 award winners of the 5 academy awards, 5 award winners of the 4 academy awards, 21 award winners of the 3 academy awards, 42 award winners of the 2 academy awards and 128 award winners of the one academy award. Since 1993, a two carat gold star has been installed instead of the silver star installed on the golden canary statue, and since the Myanmar Motion Picture Academy Award held in 2017, the award has been changed to a five-carat gold star instead of a two carat gold star.