First Film Festival in Burma Announces Winner

Photojournalist Law Eh Soe

The Art of Freedom film festival, which was organized by pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi and comedian activist Zarganar, was held in Rangoon, Burma from January 1 to January 3, 2012. This was Burma’s first film festival, and it included uncensored and critical films about the former military regime that ruled the country for 50 years until the new government was elected last year. Five films were awarded out of 188 submitted short films, and a prize-giving ceremony was held in Rangoon on January 4, Burma’s Independence Day.

“Click in Fear,” directed by DVB cameraman Sai Kyaw Khaing, was awarded the title of Best Short Documentary at the Art of Freedom Festival. For the film the director followed photojournalist Law Eh Soe’s work during the Saffron Revolution period in Burma in 2007; Sai Kyaw Khaing collected footage and conducted interviews on the Thai border with the photographer. The film tells the tale of a photographer who bravely documented the violent crackdowns on anti-government protesters in 2007. Law Eh Soe’s photos of protesting Buddhist monks were widely used by the international press. He was forced into exile in the US to avoid arrest.