‘My Hidden City,’ a documentary film about Rakhine’s ancient cultural capital, Mrauk U, won the award for the best short documentary award at a French film festival.
According to Daw Khin Than, the chairwoman of the Mrauk-U Cultural Heritage Conservation Association, the short documentary film has won the award for Best Short Documentary at the Giraffe Film Festival held in Nice, France last March and April.
“ I received an email from the officials of the French film festival on the morning of May 1, informing me that it won the award.This is the first time the film has won an award, despite being shortlisted in previous international film festivals. I am thrilled and grateful for this recognition,” she said.
The short film was filmed in January 2018 and has been selected for screening at international film festivals. It has been widely screened since then in various festivals.
It was also granted an Honourable Mention Certificate, at the Japan International Film Festival on June 24, 2022.
Daw Khin Than stated that, “Our primary motivation for making this film was to raise awareness about Mrauk U and its cultural heritage. Another thing is that we wanted to preserve the cultural heritage in Mrauk U. We also want to support its inclusion on the UNESCO -World Heritage List" she said.
The documentary was a collaborative effort between Myanmar director Wunna Kyaw and American director Barry Pousman. The film was made possible with support from the Dr. Saw Mra Aung Foundation and Mr. Kimball Gallagher.
The documentary, which has been translated into 8 languages, features Ko Saw Min Phyu and Saw Nan Ei Shun, the granddaughter of renowned Rakhine-Myanmar scholar U Oo Tha Tun. The film showcases the timeless customs and practices of the Rakhine people, as well as the ancient temples and pagodas of Mrauk U.
Since its completion, My Hidden City has been selected for numerous international film festivals, including those held in France, America, Ireland, Argentina, and Japan. The film has been shown in over 30 countries worldwide.
In September 2019, a draft proposal was submitted to the UNESCO World Heritage Center in Paris, France, advocating for the inclusion of the Mrauk U region on the UNESCO World Heritage List. On December 30, 2021, the final proposal for the inclusion of the Mrauk U region on the UNESCO World Heritage List was submitted.
However, the Military Council’s recent actions have temporarily suspended the process of Mrauk U’s admission to UNESCO as the current coup regime is not recognized by the UN General Assembly.
The Department of Archaeology in the Mrauk U Division has stated that it is actively engaged in the conservation and research of ancient heritage, but its efforts have come to a halt as UNESCO has ceased communication with them.
UNESCO as a UN agency is duty bound to respect the decision of the UN headquarters in New York that has strongly condemned the 2021 coup and right now the Myanmar seat has been left vacant.
According to analysts who specialize in Rakhine affairs, the Military Council currently in power in Myanmar is not recognized as a legitimate government by the international community and therefore is disqualified from nominating Mrauk U’s World Heritage listing.
The inclusion of the Mrauk U region, where Rakhine’s priceless ancient culture, pagodas, and buildings are located, in UNESCO’s World Heritage List could potentially lead to the development of domestic and international tourism, creating job opportunities for local residents through tourism-related activities.
