Surprise winners sweep Myanmar Academy Awards

Published on Monday, 31 December 2012 14:25

Myanmar Academy Award winners posed for photo on the stage (Photo - EMG)

Fans of Myanmar films have been taken for a surprise when the featured film "Htawara A Lin Tan Myar" (Forever Rays of Light) took home eight awards for the first time in the history of Myanmar Academy Awards.

At the 2012 Myanmar Academy Awards ceremony, the film won eight out of 11 awards given out last night at the Thuwunna Stadium in Yangon, including best picture, best director for Tun Aung Zaw, best actor for Naung Naung, and best actress for Melody.

Melody receiving the academy award for best actress (Photo - EMG)

New face actor Naung Naung said he felt completely overwhelmed with happiness.

Following the footsteps of famous funnymen Phoe Par Gyi and Moe Di, 59-year-old comedian Moss was also honoured as best supporting actor.

Moss and his friend Moe Di celebrates after winning the academy award for best supporting actor (Photo - EMG)

It was the first academy award Moss received and he thanked his fans and coworkers in his acceptance speech.

“Htawara A Lin Tan Myar” also won best music for Zaw Myo Htut and best screenplay for Myint Hsaung and Soe Kyaw Hsan.

Chit Snow Oo won best supporting actress for "Yinkwenar" (Broken Heart); it was also her first award in her nine-year career.

Chit Snow Oo giving her acceptance speech after winning the academy award for
best supporting actress  (Photo - EMG)

Director Zin Yaw Maung Maung's "Pann Kyar Wuth Hmone" (The Moon Lotus) only received two awards: best cinematography for Tint Hsan and best sound for San Oo.

Director Wine, whose film received three awards last year, told Eleven Media that it is important to give the academy awards to those who really deserve them, without the need to fill in the numbers.

As unexpected winners took home more than half of the awards, many fans have expressed their disappointments on the social media websites. Some have criticised the "Htawara A Lin Tan Myar" (Forever Rays of Light) for copying the plot of Chinese film "The Road Home".

A fan who attended the award ceremony said there have been changes in the presentation style of the ceremony, but he was surprised when the academy award for best actor was given out to an actor who he has never heard before.

The venue of this year's academy award was shifted back to Yangon six years after it was held in the nation's capital Nay Pyi Taw.

A total of 15 films, which were screened in local cinemas in 2011, were on the shortlist and most of them were comedies.