Myanmar Motion Picture Academy Awards
Encyclopedia
The Myanmar Motion Picture Academy Awards are film
award
s given annually in Naypyidaw
, Burma presented to the biggest achievers in the Cinema of Burma. The awards ceremony has been held annually since 1952. Each winner is presented with a golden statue and in recent years also a cash prize. To date, actor Nyunt Win has won a record seven awards, followed by director Thukha
, actor Yan Aung and cinematographer Than Nyunt with six each, and actresses Myint Myint Khin
, Mo Mo Myint Aung
and May Than Nu with five each.
In the beginning, only three kinds of awards (Best Picture, Best Actor and Best Actress) were given out. Since then, the number has steadily grown to 14. Since 1994, the Committee of Myanmar Motion Picture Academy Awards has presented at least 11 kinds of awards:
The result is that the same coterie of players win the award year after year from a much shallower pool. It used to be that only few actors and actresses could claim as "academy award winner" or even fewer still as "repeat academy award winner". Venerable actors of old like Win Oo
and Kawleikgyin Ne Win
won just two each in their lifetime. Director Thukha
and actress Myint Myint Khin
who won six and five respectively were the exceptions, not the rule.
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
award
Award
An award is something given to a person or a group of people to recognize excellence in a certain field; a certificate of excellence. Awards are often signifiedby trophies, titles, certificates, commemorative plaques, medals, badges, pins, or ribbons...
s given annually in Naypyidaw
Naypyidaw
Naypyidaw is the capital city of Burma, also known as Myanmar. It is administered as the Naypyidaw Union Territory, as per the 2008 Constitution. On 6 November 2005, the administrative capital of Myanmar was officially moved to a greenfield 3.2 km west of Pyinmana, and approximately...
, Burma presented to the biggest achievers in the Cinema of Burma. The awards ceremony has been held annually since 1952. Each winner is presented with a golden statue and in recent years also a cash prize. To date, actor Nyunt Win has won a record seven awards, followed by director Thukha
Thukha
Thukha was a six-time Burmese Academy Award winning film director, writer, song writer, script writer and film actor. Thukha directed 33 films and is considered the most successful Burmese film director.-Biography:...
, actor Yan Aung and cinematographer Than Nyunt with six each, and actresses Myint Myint Khin
Myint Myint Khin
Myint Myint Khin is a five-time Myanmar Academy Award winning Burmese film actress. She is considered one of the most talented actors of Burmese cinema. She is also the mother of well known singer and actress May Sweet.-Biography:...
, Mo Mo Myint Aung
Mo Mo Myint Aung
Mo Mo Myint Aung is a five-time Myanmar Academy Award winning Burmese actress, best known for her leading lady roles in several Burmese films from the 1980s to the 2000s.-Early life:...
and May Than Nu with five each.
In the beginning, only three kinds of awards (Best Picture, Best Actor and Best Actress) were given out. Since then, the number has steadily grown to 14. Since 1994, the Committee of Myanmar Motion Picture Academy Awards has presented at least 11 kinds of awards:
- Best Picture
- Best Director
- Best Screenplay
- Best Actor
- Best Actress
- Best Supporting Actor
- Best Supporting Actress
- Best Music
- Best Cinematography
- Best Film Editing
- Best Sound
Significance
The significance of the awards has fluctuated along with the health of Burmese cinema. The number of eligible film entries each year has declined dramatically since the 1980s. Due to heightened competition from foreign films and other entertainment media as well as escalating costs of production, the number of feature-length Burmese films has gone from nearly 100 films per year in the 1970s to barely more than ten today. The number of films screened were 95 in 1978, 75 in 1983, 65 in 1985. In 2008, only 12 were screened. As the Burmese film industry struggles to produce films each year, films that do get produced are mostly with established directors, actors and actresses. Most Burmese films today are dominated by comedies.The result is that the same coterie of players win the award year after year from a much shallower pool. It used to be that only few actors and actresses could claim as "academy award winner" or even fewer still as "repeat academy award winner". Venerable actors of old like Win Oo
Win Oo
-Youth:Win Oo was born Hla Myint in Yangon to his parents U Ba Nyunt and Daw Hning Ye. He studied at TTC Teacher Training College. In 1952, he discontinued his university education and joined the Burmese Defence Army. He left as an army captain in 1962.-Entertainment career:His first movie was...
and Kawleikgyin Ne Win
Kawleikgyin Ne Win
Kawleikgyin Ne Win was a two-time Burmese Academy Award winning Burmese film actor and director. Born Ne Win, he was given his famous moniker after his successful debut film, Kawleikgyin , so as not to be confused with the late Burmese strongman of the same name, Gen...
won just two each in their lifetime. Director Thukha
Thukha
Thukha was a six-time Burmese Academy Award winning film director, writer, song writer, script writer and film actor. Thukha directed 33 films and is considered the most successful Burmese film director.-Biography:...
and actress Myint Myint Khin
Myint Myint Khin
Myint Myint Khin is a five-time Myanmar Academy Award winning Burmese film actress. She is considered one of the most talented actors of Burmese cinema. She is also the mother of well known singer and actress May Sweet.-Biography:...
who won six and five respectively were the exceptions, not the rule.