HURFOM-produced human rights film receives Daw Aung San Suu Kyi Prize

June 24, 2015

HURFOM

A human rights film entitled “Touching the Fire”, directed by Min Than Oo and produced by the Human Rights Foundation of Monland (HURFOM), has won the Aung San Suu Kyi Prize at the 2015 Human Rights Human Dignity International Film Festival, Burma/Myanmar.

The film, recorded in Mon with subtitles in Burmese, details the concerns of residents in Anndin village, Ye Township, in Southeast Burma’s Mon State, over plans by foreign direct investment (FDI) company Toyo-Thai to construct a coal-fired power plant in the village.Since Toyo-Thai Company arrived in Anndin village in April 2014, the company has also announced plans to buy 500 acres of farmland just 500 meters away from Anndin, to build a deep seaport to import coal to fuel the plant. Additionally, the company plans to bring 20,000 migrant workers to Anndin to work on the project. The film’s Director Min Than Oo, also known as Nai Asorn Vi, spent almost three months collecting and editing footagefrom Anndinvillage, supported by funding from HURFOM.

The film’s main theme is the impact of FDI on the lives of local people, in the context of Burma’s transition to democracy. The film narrates the diverging views of government officials and local people on the coal power plant, detailing villagers’ concerns that they will lose their land, resources, culture and religion due to the project.

The Human Rights Human Dignity International Film Festival was held from June 15 to 19, organized by prominent filmmaker Min Htin Ko Ko Gyi, and with the patronage of human rights icons Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and Min Ko Naing. The festival saw wide competition from 67 national and international films, covering issues surrounding political, economic, social and cultural rights. The film festival’s award ceremony was held on June 19, in celebration of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s birthday.

Written by Modinator · Filed Under News