During a press conference hold online, Séverine Wemaere, Chairman of the non profit organisation MEMORY cinema alongside Grace Swe Zin Htaik,
patron of the MEMORY, unveiled the program, guests and the finalists of the Myanmar Script Fund 2020 (MSF).
They announced the President of the Jury for the 5th edition of MSF, Mrs Dechen Roder, a promising director from Bouthan notably awarded in Berlin Film Festival. Mrs Deche Roder succeeds directors Michel Hazanavicius (France), Midi Z (Myanmar-Taiwan), Phan Dang Di (Vietnam), Tran Anh Hung (France-Vietnam). Mrs Roder will head the MSF International Jury comprising 6 members.
Myanmar Script Fund is a program dedicated to emerging Myanmar filmmakers. The Fund’s objective is to assist the finalist candidates in honing their professional skills and will organise professional meetings. It provides script-writing or production individual consultancies and plenary sessions.
“MSF is above all an incubator, where everyone remains free because this program is not held in an academic setting. An incubator of talents that will be supported in the long term by a dedicated team and many external contributors from international film industry. MSF is held throughout the year with highlights at the time of selections and intensive sessions, but the actions then continue with the follow-up and support of candidates in the development of their projects”, declared Séverine Wemaere co-head of MEMORY! Festival and Myanmar Script Fund.
MSF 2020 will include 2 different sections; MSF Original is for the new projects and MSF Advanced dedicated to MSF Alumni’s more mature projects. Both sections are selective.
MSF ORIGINAL (MSFO) is reserved for new projects: 6 Myanmar feature film projects will benefit from coaching sessions. They will also be part of a pitching competition in front of an international jury on Dec 7. The Awards will be announced on Dec 9.
The 6 MSFO finalist projects are :
CITY BIRDS by Nay Wunn Ni and produced by Myo Thar Khin
CURVE by Mann Pye Pyo Aung and produced by Hnin Ei Hlaing
INFINITE PAIN by Sic Hmuu Naing and produced by Jose Dennis C. Teodosio
MEL MO by Kaung Myat Thu Kyaw and produced by Aye Nilar Kyaw
THE MIST OF MAYA by Zaw Win Htwe and produced by Lin Sun Oo
THE YELLOW FIELD by Min Min Hein and produced by Min Min Hein
MSF ADVANCED (MSFA) is dedicated to MSF Alumni. 6 feature-length fiction projects will be selected and benefit from one-to-one coaching sessions and industry meetings with producers, festival breeders, heads of international script funds.
The 6 MSFA finalist projects are:
FUTURE LAOBANS, by Maung Sun and produced by Ma Aient.
GARUDA DRAGON, by Zaw Bo Bo Hein and produced by Lamin Oo
SOMEWHERE I BELONG, by Than Lwin Oo and produced by Seng Li Aung
THE BALLAD OF FALLEN DREAMS, by Moe Myat May Zarchi and produced by Angèle de Lorme
THE BEER GIRL IN YANGON, by Sein Lyan Tun and produced by John Badalu
THE ROOSTER, by Aung Min, Script by San San Oo, and produced by Naing Win
“MSF has energized the independent filmmaking community with an annual challenge and a real event in Yangon. This support is valuable and has a positive impact on the film industry in Myanmar. In 5 years, tremendous progress has been made with unprecedented selections of Myanmar film projects in international film festivals. The results are there. And even more concretely, the 2016 MSF alumni, winner of the Jury Prize, Maung Sun, shot his first feature film MONEY HAS FOUR LEGS which is now in official selection at the Busan International Film Festival 2020. Other directors are coming. I am delighted that Myanmar cinema is once again visible on the international scene, especially this year which is also the centenary of cinema in our country”, declared Grace Swe Zin Htaik, actress, producer and patron of MEMORY Festival.
The MSF program is faithfully supported by the Union Ministry of Information of Myanmar, the French Embassy, the Institut français, the Swiss Embassy and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), The European Union Delegation in Myanmar, CNC (Centre National du Cinéma et de l’image animée), Arte, the US Embassy, the Locarno Festival-Open Doors and Forever Group.
‘’Since 2014, France has been a historical partner of Memory Festival in Myanmar. France also closely supports the Myanmar Script Fund program for emerging filmmakers that aims at accompanying a new generation that wants to make its voice heard in independent works. The progress is tangible, and I rejoice these directors are increasingly making their mark at international festivals ‘’ by H.E. Mr Christian Lechervy, Ambassador of France to Myanmar.
‘’In times of uncertainties, culture is a lifeline and movies are a wonderful way for independent voices to be heard and for peoples to unite. They expose us to the dreams of other people and their cultures celebrating diversity rather than feel challenged by them. The European Union is extremely glad to contribute to the Myanmar Script Fund as an initiative that builds a bridge between Myanmar and Europe’’ stressed Ranieri Sabatucci, Ambassador of European Union to Myanmar
‘’Due to the global pandemic, 2020 has been a challenging year on all levels and even more so for artisans and artists who so resist and may often not immediately be perceived as essential in times when people have to manage with used incomes. But in particular in these special times, I believe continuity and cultural activity is crucial to maintaining a public dialogue and the social fabric of our society. It is therefore my great pleasure that Switzerland contributes to this positive momentum here in Myanmar with our support to Memory Script Fund also in a year of the pandemic’’ by Tim Enderlin, Ambassador of Switzerland to Myanmar.
International Jury
Industry meetings with key international organisations of film industry :
Cannes Festival Cinéfondation (France), Locarno Festival Open Doors (Switzerland), Rotterdam Festival Hubert Bals Fund (Netherlands), Cannes Festival Semaine de la Critique (France), Ties That Bind (European consortium), CNC French Film Commission (France), Autumn Meetings (Vietnam), Busan Festival Asian Project Market (Korea), LIM Groupe Ouest (France), La Fabrique Cinéma (France).
About Myanmar Script Fund, by MEMORY! Cinema
Myanmar Script Fund is operated by MEMORY Cinema and is usually hosted by the festival. MSF acts as a talent scouting for independent cinema in Myanmar. Since 2016, more than 70 talents have been trained, representing about 30 feature film projects. Beyond the competition, all finalists are then eligible for a customized follow-up, notably for future applications to international platforms that are crucial for the development of a film project.
Press Conference Video Link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Press Conference Video Download Link – https://drive.google.com/file/
