The Japann Amateur film Directors Competition was held last week and from among 100 entries, a young Myanmar director won one of two second prizes.
The competition, held in the Japanese city of Ibusuki in Kagoshima Prefecture, was open to university and middle school students aged 12-18. Participants had to submit a three-minute short film based on a family theme.
Brang Htoi Aung, 17, won a second prize with his entry What's Family and Su Lei Mon's entry Family was chosen as the Japanse students favourite, said an official from the Myanmar Motion Picture Organisation(MMPO).
"The first prize winner was from Vientnam. Myanmar and Laos got second, and the third prizes were awarded to Mongolia, Taiwan and South Korea," said U Myint Thein Pe, chairman of the MMPO.
U Myint Thein Pe claimed the Myanmar entries were different from those of the other countries because of cultural differens.
"For the most part, Myanmar participants filmed the warmth of their families whereas the other (entrants) focused on conflicts between parents and children," he said.
Brang Htoi Aung film support from my family. My parents said to me "What you are making is a waste of money." But they allowed me to complete is because I was very enthusiastic about filming," he said.
His short film showed the failure of parents to give enough time to their family because they are so concerned with making money.
"It's a sad story about a child. The child gets excellent comments from her teacher about a drawing of his family. When she tries to show it to her parents, her parents don't pay any attention so she feels frustrated," said Brang Htoi Aung, who asked his 9 year old sister to play the role of the child.
The competition was organized by the Japan-East Asia Network of Exchange for Students and Youths (JENESYS).