The Myanmar government Monday evening presented 11 motion pictures academy awards for 2005 to the country's artists to encourage film production and bring up its quality.

The film academy awards, presented by the Ministry of Information ceremonially for the first time in the new capital of Nay Pyi Taw, was attended by First Secretary of the State Peace and Development Council Lieutenant-General Thein Sein and inaugurated by Minister of Information Brigadier-General Kyaw Hsan.

Of the 11 film awards scrutinized out of 16 movies produced during 2005, " Kyansittmin" received the best film award. The movie is based on the life of the ancient Bagan era monarch King Kyansittha who reigned from 1084 to 1113.

The best director and scriptwriter awards both went to Kyi Soe Tun for the film "Hexagon."

The best actor award was won by Lu Min for his role in the film" Kyansittmin", while the best actress award scored by Tun EaindraBo for her role in the film " Beyond Mogok Circle."

Speaking at the ceremony, Kyaw Hsan urged producing quality Myanmar films to penetrate the international market and films that uplift dynamism of patriotic spirit.

The Myanmar government presented in December 2005 also 11 motion pictures academy awards for 2004. Of the 11 film awards after scrutiny of 27 movies produced during that year, "Mystery of the Snow Story" received the best film award, while the best actor award went to Lwin Moe and the best actress award to Eindra Kyaw Zin.

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.

Editor: Donald