DVB festival highlights filmmakers’ struggles and on-the-ground voices

Mizzima

The 2025 DVB Peacock Film Festival opened on 8 December at Chiang Mai University’s Communication Innovation Centre (CIC), attracting more than 250 attendees, including filmmakers, activists and international guests. Organised by the Democratic Voice of Burma (DVB), the three-day festival is being held under the theme “Giving Voice to the Voiceless.”

The opening day drew a full hall as audiences watched documentary films made by DVB Short Docs (DSDC) finalists, Citizen Journalists (CJ Shorts), and feature-length documentaries that highlight people’s lives, struggles and hopes across Myanmar. Many films were shot inside the country by local contributors who wanted to share stories of truth from the ground.

Festival organiser Ma Chan Thiri Soe told Mizzima that entries for this year have increased despite major security challenges inside Myanmar.

“Filmmakers faced many difficulties – tight security, risks in cities, and delays because of the coming election,” she said. “But they still tried their best to send their stories. We also worked hard to make sure the festival could happen, even with budget constraints.”

The festival will continue until 10 December, featuring film screenings, workshops, special international showings, and an awards ceremony. Documentary themes include human rights violations, justice during political transition, displacement, and the resilience of conflict-affected communities.