Cinema of Myanmar

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Cinema of Myanmar (Burma): A short history

Myanmar’s cinema began in the 1910s, as audiences in Rangoon and Mandalay started enjoying films in more permanent venues. The early days featured screenings by visiting shows and local pioneers, and the move to brick‑and‑mortar cinemas followed as demand grew.

The first Burmese film
- Ohn Maung, Burma’s first film producer and director, made the first Burmese film, a documentary about a political funeral in the 1910s.
- The funeral of Tun Shein was filmed and shown in Rangoon. This led Ohn Maung to start The Burma Film Company and hire Burma’s first actor, Nyi Pu, to shoot Myitta Ne Thuya (Love and Liquor), the first Burmese silent feature. It was popular despite technical limitations.
- 13 October 1920 is now commemorated as Myanmar Movie Day.

Growth in the 1920s–1930s
- Burmese film companies such as A1, New Burma, British Burma, The Imperial, Bandula, and Yan Gyi Aung produced many films.
- The first Burmese sound film, Ngwe Pay Lo Ma Ya (Money Can’t Buy It), came out in 1932 and was directed by Tote Kyi.
- Films began to address social issues, but some were censored by the British colonial government. Others were banned, and political films like Boycott (1937) were produced with government approval.

World War II and the postwar era
- After World War II, films often carried political themes. Propaganda and national events were common in the 1950s.
- Notable titles include Palè Myetyay (Tear of Pearl) and Ludu Aung Than (The People Win Through). Thukha’s Bawa Thanthaya (The Life Cycle) was also important.
- Burma held its first Academy Awards in 1952.

Censorship and control
- The socialist era began in 1962 with strict government control over film scripts and production.
- After 1988, political changes led to further government influence. In 1989, privatization increased, with Mingala becoming a powerful film company.
- Some actors and directors who had political ties were banned, and censorship continued to shape what could be shown or produced.

Late 20th century to today
- The industry shifted toward lower-budget, direct-to-video films, and comedies became especially common.
- In 2008, only about 12 Burmese films were considered Oscar-worthy, while around 800 VCDs were produced.
- The number of cinemas declined sharply. A 2011 survey found only 71 theatres nationwide (down from 244), with most old and concentrated in Yangon and Mandalay. Only a few new “mini-theaters” had opened recently.

Global visibility and recent revival
- In the 21st century, Myanmar cinema began appearing at international film festivals. Examples include Maw Naing’s The Monk (2014) at Karlovy Vary, Wera Aung’s The Robe at Busan, Cobalt Blue at Locarno, and Money Has Four Legs at Locarno.
- By 2019, there were signals of revival. Censorship releases increased from about a dozen in 2016 to more than 60 in 2019. The film Now and Ever (2019) helped illustrate renewed activity, and The Only Mom was highlighted as a top film of 2019.

Key points
- Burma/Myanmar has a long film history starting in the 1910s, with early silent films and the first sound film in 1932.
- The industry has seen cycles of liberalization and strict government censorship, especially during the socialist era and after 1989 privatization.
- The number of cinemas declined dramatically, but recent years show signs of revival and renewed international attention.