'Into the Current: Burma's Political Prisoners'

 A documentary by Jeanne Hallacy, co-produced with the Democratic Voice of Burma.

 

 

8pm, Thursday Jan 26, 2012

Members: Free Non Members: 300 THB Thai and Burmese snacks provided

 

'Into the Current' tells the story of Burma's unsung heroes - its prisoners of conscience - and the price they pay for speaking truth to power in a military dictatorship. Using footage secretly shot in Burma, the film uncovers the stories and sacrifices of 'ordinary' people of exceptional courage, and the leaders who inspire them. Former prisoner Bo Kyi and an underground team work tirelessly and often at great risk on behalf of their jailed colleagues. While they and countless others fight on, the dream of a free Burma remains alive. 
  This screening is the Asian premiere of a documentary - 76 minutes long and co-produced by the Democratic Voice of Burma - that has been selected for more than 12 international festivals in Europe, USA, Canada and other parts of the world.
 

 Radio Free Asia's Peter Slavin described it as a 'stunning film'.

  Mizzima's Jim Andrews said: "The film contains several other vivid and often disturbing interviews with former political prisoners, some of them on the verge of tears as they recall their dreadful ordeals." For Andrews, a three-year-old toddler was the 'star' of this "powerful documentary" about the fate of up to 1,500 "prisoners of conscience" still in prisons in Burma. Phyu Naychi's mother and father were activists rounded up after the demonstrations of in August and September 2007, and sentenced to 65 years in jail by a military court.
 

 The good news is some of these people featured in the film such as pro-democracy leader Min Ko Naing and Nilar Thein, have been freed in recent days.
 

  The sad reality, however, is many more still languish in jail.
 
 After the screening, we will talk - via Skype - to film-maker Jeanne Hallacy, a person well-known to FCCT members, currently in the USA for the film's premiere there and a panel of experts will comment on the extraordinary changes going on in Burma today:

* Kraisak Choonhavan, a former Senator and frequent critic of the military junta;

* Bo Kyi is the joint general secretary of the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners.

* Associate director Santhar Aung was formerly with DVB; his footage of the 2007 protests led by Buddhist monks featured in the Oscar-nominated 'Burma VJ'.

* Benjamin Zawacki, from Amnesty International.

Please join us for an important film about Burma's political turmoil - and get an insight into the excitement that has accompanied recent changes in this long-troubled land.

For more information, see: www.intothecurrent.org 

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