Professionals of film industry urged to preserve the films reflecting Myanmar’s historical and cultural images

Union Minister for Information U Maung Maung Ohn arrived at the Myanmar Motion Picture Museum and Film Studio under the Department of Information and Public Relations in Bahan Township, Yangon Region, yesterday morning.
At the Myanmar Motion Picture Museum, Director General of the Information and Public Relations Department U Aye Kywe explained the condition of the museum operation. The Union Minister said Myanmar’s films are invaluable heritage that can express historical events as well as cultural images, and must be systematically preserved.
The Union Minister said it is necessary to preserve the ancient films with digital technology, and technicians need to observe the international film preservation techniques not to damage the films in natural diseases. It is a matter of great pride for all Myanmar people that Myanmar cinema is over 100 years old and that some of the great films have been recognized as the UNESCO World Heritage List, he continued.
He added that the Prime Minister of the State gave a guidance to provide necessary assistance for the development of the film industry and have close discussion with artistes and assist them in meeting their needs in accordance with the procedures. Although there are a total of more than 3,000 films and documentaries in the museum, the number of digitally preserved systems is still very few and more cooperation with relevant professionals is needed.
Afterwards, the Union Minister inspected studios and film development centres in the Motion Picture Development Branch.
The Ministry of Information established the Motion Picture Museum on 22 June 1981 and, is maintaining more than 3,000 academy award-winning films and documentaries. Of them, “Mya Ga Naing”, “Pyoh Chit Lin”, “Japan Yin Thway”, “Nga Ba”, “Bathu Pyaing Loh Hla Par Tawt Naing” films are digitally preserved. “Mya Ga Naing” was regarded as an Asia- Pacific heritage of the UNESCO in 2018. A National Film Archive is being built to preserve film in a methodical way.
In the afternoon, the Union Minister had a close discussion with executives and patrons of the Myanmar Motion Picture Organization on COVID-19 vaccination plan for film artistes and technicians, current challenges and the resumption of film activities, pledging to provide aid to those from the film industry as much as he can in accord with the guidance of the Prime Minister of the State.—MNA