The applications Myanmar Script Fund (MSF) are now open for the 4th edition of this Education and competition program that is designed for Myanmar emerging filmmakers, producers and scriptwriters. It enables an international exposure and project development support for the current film projects in development.
Applications will close on October 1st, 2019. 6 finalist projects will be selected, announced early October. Directors and Producers of the finalist projects will attend a 7-day Education and Competition in Yangon (Nov 13-19). MSF Award Ceremony is scheduled on Nov 19. The application is open to all Myanmar talents and free of charge.
Created in 2016 by MEMORY! Cinema within MEMORY! Film Festival, the main objective of MSF is to identify key young talents and guide/train them to master international film production standards and methods.
MSF contributes to support the new generation of filmmakers at the very early step of a film project. The ultimate purpose is to see a “new wave” appear with Myanmar films selected in international film festivals, representing the revived film industry of Myanmar.
MSF’s selection process is defined according to international standards in order to prepare the finalist to apply further to international script funds and labs.
The Jury and Coach team comprises international film experts (Festival director, producer, script doctor, etc.) in order to offer best-in-class assessment and coaching. Locarno Festival/Open Doors has been a faithful partner at the very early stage of this program.
Since its 1stedition, MSF selected 21 film projects (9 in 2016, 6 in 2017 and 6 in 2018) and coached 55 filmmakers, scriptwriters and producers in the frame of this intensive workshop.
The results are encouraging with several MSF projects selected in international script markets (among them Locarno Festival-Open Doors), one MSF film project 2017 awarded in an international film festival and selected at Cinefondation’s Atelier of Cannes Festival 2019 (Director The Maw Naing), one MSF film project in the process of shooting/postproduction (Director Maung Sun) and one short movie in official competition at Locarno Film Festival in the section Pardi di Domani (Aung Phyoe).
For the past four years, MSF/MEMORY! Festival worked closely public organisation and civil society in Myanmar. Among them Ministry of information, Wathann Film Festival, 3-Act, Myanmar Filmmakers’ Network, Yangon Film School, Pen Myanmar, IPRD (MOI), MMPO, University of Arts and Culture but also with Forever Group and Canal + Myanmar.
Several International partners are involved in these achievements: French Embassy and Institut français, Locarno Film Festival/Open Doors, Swiss Development Agency for Cooperation, FAMU (National film school of Czech Republic, CNC and Arte Cinema.
