UNESCO is a supporter of the “&Proud LGBT Film Festival”, which will be held at the French Institute in Yangon from 14 to 16 November, 2014.
The film festival springs from the LGBT cultural scene that has taken shape as Myanmar has opened its doors to the outside world in recent years. “&Proud” will celebrate the breadth and diversity of the community by featuring homegrown Myanmar productions, films from most ASEAN countries as works from other Asian countries.
Festival organizers Colors Rainbow, YG Event and several other gender-oriented organizations say that their primary goal is to increase awareness and tolerance of sexual identity issues through increased public exposure.
“In Myanmar, some films present misconceptions on sexual identity and LGBTs, so, we would like to spread correct information on sexual identity to the public and promote the dignity of LGBTs,” says Ko Hla Myat Tun from Colors Rainbow, an LGBT rights organization in Myanmar. “We also would like to express how LGBTs accept their own identity proudly.”
To this end, Colors Rainbow, along with Turning Tables and other partners, conducted a workshop with nine members of the LGBT community from all over Myanmar that taught them how to tell their stories through documentary film-making
“As a result, three LGBT documentaries were made and all will be played at the festival,” says Ko Hla Myat.
Altogether, 33 feature length and short films as well as documentaries will be screened at the festival.
The festival is timed ahead of World Human Rights Day on 10 December as well as the Transgender Day of Remembrance on 20 November, an occasion that memorializes those who have been victims of violence related to transphobia.
Together with other partners, UNESCO has supported the organization of the film festival and provided three films screened previously at the ASEAN Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex and Queer (LGBTIQ) Film Festival held in Chiang Mai, Thailand in 2012: It Gets Better (Thailand), Hot Boy Noi Loan (Vietnam) and Beautiful Boxer (Thailand).
Ko Hla Myat says that such partnerships were crucial to the success of this groundbreaking endeavor in Myanmar.
“Much effort went into arranging this film festival and UN agencies, embassies and other local and international organizations supported us,” he says. “We are very excited to begin the festival and expect a very positive outcome out of this.”
View: &Proud website
For further information, contact:
Mr. HlaMyat Tun (hlamyat.crb@gmail.com), Programme Officer, Colors Rainbow and
Dr. Pyi Pyi Phyo (pp.phyo @unesco.org), UNESCO Myanmar
Related Links:
City to host first LGBT film festival by Myanmar Times
Rangoon to Host Burma’s Premier LGBT Film Fest By the Irrawaddy