Myanmar to confer bachelor degree with cinema major

YANGON, Oct. 8 -- Myanmar's National University of Culture and Arts in Yangon will confer Bachelor of Arts degree with cinema B.A (Cinema) for the academic year 2006-09, sources with the university said on Thursday.

The major subject is jointly introduced by the Ministry of Culture, National University of Culture and Arts and the Movie and Drama Department with the aim of nurturing skilled actors, actresses and directors for the development of Myanmar's motion picture industry, the sources said.

Altogether 36 students will be conferred with the degree in the forthcoming graduation ceremony, it added.

Meanwhile, Myanmar is making efforts to promote the standard of the country's video features and movie production for penetrating foreign markets, urging artists to cooperate with international counterparts to improve the domestic movie industry, while preserving and safeguarding national cultural heritage, national prestige and national character through the arts of film.

In February this year, the Myanmar government presented six motion pictures academy awards for 2007 to the country's artists to encourage domestic film production and bring up its quality.

The six film awards included the best film award, best director award, best actor award, best supporting actor award, best music award and best cinematography award.

Myanmar formed the Motion Picture Promotion and Scrutiny Board in 1952 and since then 290 domestic academy awards have been presented to successful artists annually.