[Myanmar] Burmese Film Awards Return To Rangoon

[News_Editor]

Winners of the 2011 Myanmar Motion Picture Academy Awards hold their trophies on stage during the ceremony in Naypyidaw. (Photo: The Irrawaddy)

The Myanmar Motion Picture Academy Awards, celebrating the best of the nation’s movie-making talent, return to Rangoon this month after four years in the new capital Naypyidaw.

“We are happy that we can hold the ceremony back in Rangoon for the convenience of film stars and people from the industry,†said Khin Maung Chin, the spokesman of the Myanmar Motion Picture Organization. “The ceremony will be held in Rangoon in the future as well.â€

He said that the event, which features 11 different categories annually, will now take place at the Thuwunna National Indoor Stadium on the afternoon of Dec. 30, with more Burmese celebrities expected to attend compared with previously ceremonies held in Naypyidaw.

“In Naypyidaw, only a few people could attend as most of us are based in Rangoon and there were many problems like finding hotels and having to spend more on transportation,†added Khin Maung Chin.
“As the ceremony is back to Rangoon, everybody is happy.â€

In the past, the awards ceremony was organized by the Myanmar Motion Picture Enterprise under the auspices of the Ministry of Information. This year, the event is being run by the Myanmar Motion Picture Organization, which is formed by directors, film stars and others working in the Burmese film industry.

A total of 15 Burmese romance and comedy films released in 2011 have been nominated for the awards. Burmese celebrities will entertain the audience with theme songs from films and other surprise performances during the event.

The ceremony will also be broadcast live through MRTV and SkyNet.

The Burmese Motion Picture Academy Awards ceremony, the local version of Hollywood’s the Oscars, has traditionally been held in Rangoon during the last week of December since 1952.

Source: Irrawaddy.org