Entertainment

The Academy Awards ceremony will be held at year-end to honour films released in both 2014 and 2015 in a break with the usual tradition of giving out awards a year late, according to the Myanmar Motion Picture Organisation (MMPO).

Noted filmmaker Wyne’s latest film “Kya Ma Ka Hnin Si Par Maung” (“I am a Rose, Dear”) continues to dominate the box office despite its pirated copy being watched online by internet users. Since its release on June 12, major theatres in Yangon and Mandalay have agreed to screen the film for four weeks [instead of three weeks as usual] on the back of its record-setting first weekend take. 

Renowned hip-hop artist Hlwan Paing started out on his music career as a member of the underground outfit ‘89’ while still a university student. He got his big break in 2009 when he was picked as one of the featured artists for Yè Lay’s “Third Rhyme” album. Ever since he has released a solo album and a duet album, participated in many group albums and performed in many concerts. Now he’s wearing another hat as an actor starring in a couple of films.  

Why do you want to cross over to the silver screen?

After 24 years of exile in Thailand, Aung Myo Min is once again making his voice heard. A leader of the student rallies in Rangoon – Yangon as it is today – back in 1988, the outspoken human rights activist is determined to see the restoration of rule of law and justice in Myanmar. 

Back in his native land since 2013 after almost quarter of a century away, he’s hoping to make the Myanmar people, and especially children, realise the true meaning of human rights as well as aware of their own rights. 

The Myanmar Traditional Artists and Artisans Organisation (Central) is staging an exhibition of traditional paintings at Bogyoke Aung San Market from today to June 21.

On display are masterpieces created by 18 modernist artists including Maung Maung Hla Myint, Than Kywel, Myat Han, Hla One, Thiha, Aung Min Min and Kyaw Thura Aung. 

Myanmar Media 7 is filming a special video tribute to the Myanmar football teams U-20 (recently represented at the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup) and U-23 that competed in the 28th Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) in Singapore on Monday.

“Letter to the President”, a feature film by noted Myanmar director Wyne, has been under review by the Myanmar film censorship board for three months, and there’s still no sign of the film being given the board’s permission anytime soon.  

The board has requested that a character who’s portrayed as the son of a minister be changed to the son of a minister’s crony. 

Actress turned singer Htun Aeindra Bo has denied the rumour that her and four other artists had visa applications rejected by the US Embassy for stating that they were NLD (National League for Democracy) members in their paperwork.

A Facebook user named Khaing Zaw wrote that the five artists claimed they were NLD members in their application forms but had been rejected as their names were not on the party membership list held by the embassy.

Ponnya Khin is regarded as one of Myanmar’s influential chick-lit authors. The film adaptation of her best-selling novel “Kya Ma Ka Hnin Si Par Maung” (“I am a Rose, Dear”) has just hit the theatres. While the film has caused a sensation among film critics, its title is becoming one of the buzzwords on social media following its press preview. The novelist told Myanmar Eleven in a recent interview how she’s coping with the success of the film and the sheer popularity of her several other novels destined for the big screen. 

“Let’s Go”, the acclaimed travel documentary in Myanmar, has started airing its new episodes shot on location in Malaysia on MWD every Tuesday, according to Myanmar Media 7.

“’Let’s Go’ has become more successful of late because we are able to go places for the audience. The new episodes were filmed in Malaysia. Bunny Phyoe, one of the cast members, was unable to participate in these episodes due to his commitment to his US tour. The rest of the cast are in it,” said Wai Min Maung, chairman of Myanmar Media 7.