In this poignant talk, Lin Sun Oo, a third generation Myanmar film maker, traces the history of film making in Myanmar against the backdrops of turbulent national politics and strong family legacies. From his grandfather whose film debut coincided with the 1962 military coup in Myanmar and his mother who defined cultural barriers to become one of the very first Myanmar female film directors, this is the story of a family of film-makers who lived through military dictatorship and censorship without losing the courage and determination to tell stories.
Lin Sun Oo was born and raised in Yangon, Myanmar. He is the co-founder and director of Tagu Films; an independent film company founded in 2013. He graduated from McDaniel College, Maryland in 2010 with a BA in Philosophy and Environmental Policy. He returned to Myanmar in 2011 after working as a research assistant at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Upon his return, he worked as a producer and director on independent film projects with local film crews and international new agencies. His work has been presented at film festivals such as the Art of Freedom Film Festival, Wathann Film Fest, and the Human Rights and Human Dignity International Film Festival. As a producer, his short documentary film This Land is Our Land have been showcased in local and international film festivals and have won awards in Myanmar and abroad. He has a strong passion in street photography and visual storytelling about life in Myanmar.
