International Media Support (IMS) is handling donations that will support and ensure the continued work of video journalists in Burma. Together with the film's production company MagicHour Films, IMS has also succeeded in raising more than 20,000 DKK during fund-raising events in support to ensure the continued work of video journalists in Burma. Your support is much appreciated.

Burma - the story about the battle between good and evil

"Burma VJs - reporting from a closed country" by  Danish filmmaker Anders Østergaard shows the undertakings by Burmese video journalists - VJs - in bringing live images from Burma to the world during the Saffron Revolution.  As part of a global campaign on Burma in the UK during July, the film ran in 42 cinemas across the UK, coming only second to the new Harry Potter movie as the most grocing movie per viewing - an extraordinary achievement for a documentary.

- These figures indicate that the cinemas were packed and that we got our message through to the audiences, says Terry Stevens at Dogwoof, the film distributor in the UK.

The director of the film, Anders Østergaard, attributes the succes to a well-planned promotional effort. IMS WEB asked him, why, in his view, the film is so popular:

- Burma is in essence the fundamental story about the battle between good and evil. In that sense it is an easy sell, he says humbly and continues:

- Burma may not be on our minds on a daily basis, but I think most people are familiar with the story about Burma and have a clear recollection of the image of the tiny lady with the big flower in her hair. The film simply awakens an already existing sparkle in people, he says referring to the Burmese opposition leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, who has been held in house arrest for a number of years.

Promoting change

Since the release in November 2008, “Burma VJs – reporting from a closed country” has won one award after the other at a number of international film festivals. With the popular awareness the film is attracting, Anders Østergaard hopes that the vibes will reach the higher Echelons of political offices and spark new initiatives to promote change in Burma.

- Especially in countries who have dealings with Burma, I would like to see the film help build popular pressure to changes the policies currently carried out by the governments of these countries, says Anders Østergaard.

So far, the film has not been screened in countries such as China, Russia, India and Thailand, and Anders Østergaard says jokingly, he doesn’t expect to receive an invitation to present his documentary at the Beijing film festival.

Instead, he relies on the widespread tradition of software piracy throughout Asia hoping that “Burma VJs” will be copied by the bulk and sold at modest prices in the streets as a means to furthering the dissemination of the documentary along informal channels in countries neighbouring Burma.

- This is how the film is being distributed in Burma right now. I hear that it is gaining popularity, so I’m confident this trend may spread beyond the boundaries of Burma, says Anders Østergaard.

High-risk journalism

IMS worked with the production crew of "Burma VJs" to provide insight into the present situation of the media in Burma where IMS supports media to ensure the flow of information inside and outside Burma. In a restrictive media environment like Burma, video journalists are vital to documenting the actions of the military authorities and human rights conditions in the country and getting this information to the outside world.

The journalists document the historical and dramatic days of September 2007 when thousands of civilians, students and Buddhist monks marching against the government's decision to remove fuel subsidies, were attacked by brutal police agents and shooting military. The film offers a unique insight into high-risk journalism in a police state at a time where all foreign TV crews were banned from entering the country.

For more information about "Burma VJ - reporting from a closed country", see (http://burmavjmovie.com/).

Watch the trailer here: