Local film industry sees revival in Arakan State

By Admin 01 Nov 2024

DMG Newsroom
1 November 2024, Mrauk-U

The motion picture industry is beginning to show signs of revival in territories controlled by the Arakkha Army (AA) in Arakan State, but stakeholders say lack of technology and equipment, and financial constraints, are holding back their ability to produce quality movies.

After the industry grappled for years with the compound effects of the Covid-19 pandemic and armed conflict, young Arakanese filmmakers have been doing their best to create Arakanese-language movies this year with the limited resources they have.

“I am happy that many young people are interested in art. However, regarding their technical ability, there is room for improvement,” said one source from the industry. “They need to learn to be able to make proper films. The intelligentsia must also assist them.”

Since February, young Arakanese people with no previous experience in acting or film production have been creating short and feature-length films in Pauktaw, Kyauktaw, Mrauk-U, Ponnagyun, Minbya and Minbya, all townships controlled by the AA.

“Young people can’t pursue their education and they have no jobs [due to the fighting]. So, they write scripts and film movies, mainly with the aim that there must be Arakanese movies for people in Arakan State,” said a resident of Ponnagyun Township.

Ko Myo Min Htet, a director from Pauktaw Township, said they can only use smartphones to create videos and also face financial constraints.

“We will be able to create better movies if we have capital, but in my case, I have to spend from my own pocket, and I recently suspended shooting films as I can’t afford it. It is also partly because I can’t get appropriate actors,” he said.

Arakanese movies are mainly of the romance, drama and comedy genres, featuring Arakanese songs and melodies. In the past, the local industry enjoyed greater popularity with Arakan State audiences, before being replaced by mainland Myanmar-made and foreign films.

Arakanese residents have welcomed the production of Arakanese-language movies, saying they help preserve Arakanese language and culture.

“It is good that they are filming Arakanese movies. We can showcase our language and culture through those movies. But artists and technicians must also cooperate so that the industry can thrive,” said one Arakanese resident.