Myanmar’s protest movement is coming to the screen in Bangkok and Chiang Mai thanks to Myanmar and Thai filmmakers.
Starting tomorrow, two years since the Tatmadaw staged a coup and began a bloody campaign to pacify its own people, the Myanmar Film Nights festival will show 11 films at two locations – Ruen Roi Chanam in Bangkok and Chiang Mai University this weekend.
The films range from documentaries, experimental shorts, and works of animation such as Myanmar Diaries. It chronicles the lives of its anonymous Myanmar filmmakers during the junta’s reign of terror and was named best film last year by Amnesty International at the Berlin International Film Festival.
Soil Without Land by Thai filmmaker Nontawat Numbenchapol tells the story of a stateless young man living in a buffer zone between Burma and northern Thailand as he trains to fight for the Shan State Army.
There will also be talks, performance art, poetry readings, and Burmese food.
After opening at 7pm on Wednesday with four films in Bangkok, the festival continues Saturday afternoon in the basketball court of Chiang Mai U’s Faculty of Social Sciences.
All films are free, but attendees must register in advance. Find the full schedule for both Bangkok and Chiang Mai online.
