Burma VJ gets first ever film screening at 10 Downing Street
Story by Jack Foley
A DOCUMENTARY on the 2007 uprising by monks in Burma has become the first film to be shown at 10 Downing Street.
Danish filmmaker Anders Østergaard’s Burma VJ was screened on the eve of the 64th Birthday of Burma’s detained pro-democracy leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi, No.10 Downing Street held a private screening of the forthcoming cinema release Burma VJ.
Sarah Brown played host to the event in order to raise awareness for the growing global campaign – 64 Words for Aung San Suu Kyi – created by Burma Campaign UK and supported by the Prime Minister Gordon Brown and the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office, which aims to put pressure on Burma’s Military regime to release Aung San Suu Kyi before the elections next year.
The 64 Words for Aung San Suu Kyi campaign was set up to draw attention to the events taking place in Burma and encourages people to give messages of support for Aung San Suu Kyi ahead of her 64th birthday today (June 19).
A number of world leaders and high profile names from the world of entertainment have given their support to the campaign including George Clooney, Julia Roberts, Demi Moore, Yoko Ono, Kevin Spacey and David Beckham, alongside campaigners across the region and in the UK, led by Burma Campaign UK, Crisis Action, TUC, Amnesty International and Avaaz to name a few.
Burma VJ exposes the atrocities and injustices that have been taking place under the Military regime. It is highly relevant in the current circumstances surrounding the trial of Aung San Suu Kyi and the ongoing repression of the people of Burma by the regime.
Director Østergaard was present at No.10 Downing Street and participated in a discussion led by Ivan Lewis, Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, afterwards.
He told IndieLondon that it had been a surprise and an honour to be the first film to be screened at 10 Downing Street and said he was overwhelmed by the political support the film has been receiving.
He also described No.10 as “cosy” and “homely”.
Burma VJ will be released by The Co-operative and UK film distributor Dogwoof on Tuesday, July 14, at a nationwide “Saffron Premiere” event.
Commenting on The Co-Operative’s motivation for supporting the film, Paul Monaghan, Head of Social Goals and Sustainability, said: “People put their lives on the line to get this footage out of Burma in the hope that the world would take notice. News stories come and go, but the oppression in Burma is as bad as anywhere on the planet, and we mustn’t turn a blind eye.”