Short dramas and documentaries – the young director Maung Okkar and his partner and producer May Zin, both from Myanmar, are full of ideas on how to resurrect Myanmar’s independent cinema, which has been hampered by decades of dictatorship. They already have a number of films to their name. This year, their first feature-length film ‘Craving’ was selected for the Open Doors section of the Locarno International Film Festival, which has had the SDC as a partner since its inception (see box).
Supporting independent cinema in Myanmar
Article, 04.08.2016
Director Maung Okkar and producer May Zin Myo, both from Myanmar, will be newcomers at the Open Doors section of the Locarno Festival, which is backed by the SDC. This is a chance of a lifetime to meet international professionals from the film world and contribute to the development of contemporary cinema in Myanmar, a country undergoing a transition to democracy.
“Myanmar has tons of stories to tell”
In the Maung family, filmmaking has been passed down from father to son. Okkar is no exception. Having featured in some of his father’s films, Okkar attended a course in film studies at Yangon Film School. He then moved behind the camera and began to direct his own films.
“I try to draw on my own experiences in my work. After decades of military dictatorship, the people of Myanmar have tons of stories that have been locked away and never been told. I wanted to uncover these accounts and turn them into art films,” explains Okkar.
“It’s an incredible opportunity to be part of Open Doors. It’s given me the chance to meet other professionals from around the world and will allow me to draw on this experience in all areas of my work as a director – from writing to pre-production and filming through to post-production.”
Upholding a tradition
Myanmar has a cinematic tradition that is almost one hundred years old and began in the 1930s. At the time, cinema was flourishing in the country and provided an outlet for many schools of thought and various political, social and cultural views. Strict censorship was imposed following the military coup in 1962. However, since 2011, the country has witnessed a slow transition towards democracy.
“Unfortunate political changes have had a profound effect on cinema in Myanmar. This is the right time to revive it,” highlights Okkar.
“Film production in Myanmar receives no subsidies from the government or local organisations. The crews work hard. We have fascinating stories to tell and talented actors and actresses. Our films have an unique aesthetic quality and style. However, Myanmar’s film industry has a shortage of professionals. For many years, Myanmar had neither a film school, nor a company leasing equipment, nor even a production company. An obsession with profit also prevented quality independent cinema from flourishing.
Our film industry once had a golden age. As a young director, my mission is to do my utmost to make the best possible films.”
“Conveying the flavour and culture of Myanmar to the rest of the world”
May Zin Myo manages the Pan Wai Wai company that produces Okkar’s films. She would like to produce films for an international audience while conveying something of the flavours and culture of Myanmar.
“It’s important for me to take part in Locarno’s Open Doors section. It allows me to connect to an international network. It’s not easy to produce a film. To ensure quality, our crew needs professionals for every stage of the production.”
May Zin sums up the importance of cinema for Myanmar’s society. “Cinema is a mirror to a country, its culture, traditions and politics. If we can improve our film industry, we will be making a contribution to developing our country as a whole. Films are more than just entertainment. They help to educate people.
As a young producer, I am doing everything I can to contribute to my country’s cinematographic creativity,” she explains.
What can cinema do for freedom and democracy?
Delivering cultural initiatives in developing countries helps to promote democracy on the ground. Switzerland has a long tradition of supporting arts and culture in partner countries. Promoting independent cinema encourages freedom of expression and contributes to peacebuilding and sustainable development.
In addition to its Open Doors partnership, the FDFA also supports Yangon Film School through the Swiss Embassy in Yangon’s cultural programme. Switzerland is helping the school develop its own financing plan. Funds have also been allocated to restore Myanmar’s oldest surviving original film negative (Mya Ganaing/The Emerald Jungle, 1934).This film will be screened at Locarno.
Open Doors 2016–2018: Exploring South Asia
The Locarno Festival’s Open Doors section raises the profile of film projects from directors in emerging countries and countries that have no local support for their film industry. Open Doors provides an opportunity for meetings with potential producers and other film industry partners who may make a substantial contribution to developing these projects. This 14th edition will take place on 4–9 August. In 2016, films from four countries – Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal and Myanmar – were screened during the festival.
On 7 August, the spotlight will be on a feature film from Myanmar – ‘The Monk’. The showing will be followed by a round-table discussion on the status of young people in Myanmar and the role of cinema in the country’s political and social change. The screening and discussion will take place in a partnership with the FDFA’s Democracy without Borders initiative, launched in 2014 by Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter.
Links
Current projects in Myanmar
Land and Natural Resources Governance (LNRG) program
01.01.2025
- 31.12.2027
Myanmar's land and natural resources are threatened by conflicts, disputes, environmental degradation, and climate change. This program will strengthen ethnic and community-based systems for better land and natural resources governance in the South East region through empowered local civil society organisations and accountable ethnic Service Departments. This support builds on past successes, and is implemented by trusted local and international partners.
Community-Based Social Cohesion Rakhine (CBSC)
01.07.2024
- 30.06.2026
In the fragile and conflict-affected context of Rakhine State, Switzerland aims to prevent violence and improve intercommunal relations between the Rohingya, Rakhine and other minority ethnic groups. It will achieve this by strengthening intercommunal institutions and facilitating community-based reconciliation and dialogue efforts in Rakhine State through community networks, civil society organization (CSOs) and local leaders.
Responsible Business Fund Plus (RBF+)
01.07.2024
- 30.06.2028
Myanmar’s post-coup conflict escalation and economic turmoil has led to financial and economic instability and destabilised the agrifood industry. Also, extreme weather and climate change further impact farmers and agricultural processors. The Responsible Business Fund Plus project aims to support agrifood businesses while reducing their environmental impact and thus deepening Switzerland's commitment to private sector engagement and an inclusive green economy.
Community-based Health Services and System Strengthening Support in Sagaing
01.05.2024
- 30.04.2027
Three years after the military coup in Myanmar, targeted attacks and scrutiny in the health sector by the military junta led to a partial or total lack of access to healthcare in various regions, particularly in the dry zone. Through this project, Switzerland aims to support locally-led and inclusive community-based health system in Sagaing to provide essential, emergency, quality primary health care services, while ensuring the transition to a new decentralized and inclusive health system.
Contribution to Livelihood and Food Security Fund (LIFT)
01.01.2024
- 31.12.2028
The military coup in February 2021 and the escalating violence and conflict increased poverty and food insecurity among vulnerable populations, and decreased livelihood opportunities and agricultural production. The LIFT Strategy 2024-2028 tackles Myanmar’s food security and poverty crisis and aims to strengthen the resilience and the livelihoods of poor and vulnerable groups to withstand climate and other shocks. Switzerland adds value through its extensive experience in steering multi-donor funds, thematic expertise and its nexus expertise.
Myanmar - Access to Health Fund
01.01.2024
- 31.12.2028
Myanmar has seen very low levels of basic health services due to seven decades long conflict. The progresses achieved during the last civilian government were reversed by the military coup in 2021, leading to a nearly collapse of the national health system and an increase of humanitarian needs. Through the Access to Health Fund, Switzerland supports the provision of equitable and critical health services to vulnerable people in conflict-affected areas through the strengthening on ethnic and community health systems.
Contribution to the Trust Fund for the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar (IIMM)
01.01.2024
- 31.12.2026
By contributing to the Trust Fund of the IIMM for the second phase, Switzerland will continue to support the collection of evidence on international law abuses and crimes in Myanmar. This support will allow the Mechanism to strengthen accountability for human rights which is otherwise impossible from within the country and in support of eventual justice being delivered. This support fits and complements well the Swiss cooperation programme 2024-27.
WFP: Building Resiliency & Self-Reliance
15.11.2023
- 15.11.2025
The Swiss contribution to the World Food Programme’s Country Strategic Programme will foster and enhance resiliency through agricultural skilling and increased access to income, allowing for the Rohingya refugees to become more self-reliant and support their basic needs. As a contributor to a multi-donor framework, Switzerland can simultaneously leverage durable solutions advancement in the Rohingya response while ensuring service delivery for the most vulnerable in the refugee camps.
Support to the Internal Displacement Solutions Fund (IDSF)
01.09.2023
- 31.07.2028
By the end of 2022, 71.1 million people were living in internal displacement worldwide, a 20 per cent increase in a year and the highest number ever recorded (IDMC 2023). Switzerland is actively supporting the implementation of the UN Secretary General’s Action Agenda on solutions to internal displacement with its different instruments. Supporting the newly established Internal Displacement Solutions Fund (IDSF) represents a game-changer in supporting joint UN country level solutions to internal displacement.
P4H – Social Health Protection Network
01.07.2023
- 31.12.2025
Sustainably financed health systems are better able to respond to shocks such as a health crisis and are also in a better position to respond to patients’ health needs without exposing them to financial hardship. The P4H Social Health Protection Network provides coordinated support to low-and middle-income countries that want to raise more domestic resources for health and use available financing effectively for key health priorities.
Strengthening Civil Society in Myanmar – Paung Ku
01.07.2023
- 30.06.2027
In Myanmar, civic space has considerably shrunk since the military coup. In the absence of a legitimate government, networks of independent civil society organisations (CSOs) are essential actors for basic service provision and promotion of democratic values and human rights. Showing commitment to localisation, Switzerland will enable local CSOs to further support vulnerable communities and to protect the foundations of a pluralistic and inclusive society.
Myanmar - Strengthened self-reliance of displacement-affected communities in Shan, Rakhine and Kayah States (SSDC)
15.06.2023
- 14.06.2026
Myanmar’s prolonged civil war intensified by the military coup has displaced more than 1.8 million civilians and caused immense suffering. Local actors have been faster, more effective and generally better placed to respond to humanitarian and basic needs of displacement-affected communities. Switzerland will strengthen localization of aid by partnering with Meikswe, a multi-sectoral local NGO operating in the nexus, to increase protection and self-reliance of affected communities.