Union Minister for Information U Htein Lin inspected the upgrading of the Wazira Cinema on Bogyoke Aung San Road in Kyauktada Township, Yangon, into an international-standard theatre yesterday morning.
The Union minister was first briefed at the Wazira Cinema Hall by the deputy minister, the director-general of the Information and Public Relations Department (IPRD), the chairman of the Myanmar Architectural Council, and officials from Shwe Taung Company on the history of the cinema, the progress of renovation work and the project’s completion status.
The Union minister then said that as the Wazira Cinema will not only serve as a cinema but also as a venue where film, literature, drama, and music come together, it must be managed for long-term operation. He added that, as an ancient heritage cinema, it should be properly valued and preserved. He instructed that the directives given during the Head of State’s visit regarding the renovation be implemented, and that the work be completed in phases, with requirements and plans for further work carried out systematically.
Afterwards, the Union minister, accompanied by officials, inspected the progress of the upgrading of the Wazira Cinema and the completion of the parking lot at the Myanma Railways yard opposite the cinema, and coordinated the necessary arrangements. In the afternoon, the Union minister met members of the Motion Pictures Censorship Board at the meeting hall of the Film Promotion Division of the IPRD in Bahan Township, Yangon.
During the meeting, the Union minister said he had a warm meeting with censor members working to ensure that Myanmar films, foreign films, online films, television-broadcast foreign films, and foreign films and series with Myanmar subtitles are screened in accordance with the Motion Pictures Law as well as the Television and Video Law, and he expressed his gratitude for their efforts, experience, wisdom, and the time they sacrifice in reviewing and screening films. He also said that entrepreneurs involved in screening Myanmar and foreign films, private broadcasting companies, and ministry-affiliated content providers share the responsibility of educating and entertaining the public, and that while filmmaking is an art requiring creativity and imagination, overly creative content can be harmful to the public, so original creators must exercise caution and censors must carefully scrutinize and evaluate such works.
The secretary of the motion pictures censorship board and the director of the IPRD then explained the ongoing work, and on behalf of the censorship board members, Academy Daw Swe Zin Htike and other attendees presented and discussed their respective views on film and video censorship, after which the Union minister coordinated the discussions and delivered the concluding speech.
The Union minister, along with officials, also visited the Documentary Film building on Sasana Yeiktha Road in Bahan Township, Yangon, to inspect the building, which will host film courses as part of the 100-day project.
The chairman and officials of Forever Group then briefed the Union minister at the Documentary Film building on the television channels and training schools operated by the group, and then the director-general of the IPRD briefed him on the 100-day plan.
Afterwards, the Union minister coordinated the discussions, inspected the Documentary Film building, and issued necessary instructions. — MNA/TH
