Myanmar actress questioned for not responding to regime election campaign request

Sources close to the film industry told DVB that Myanmar film star Phway Phway, a three-time Myanmar Academy Award winning actress, was detained and questioned for not responding to a Ministry of Information request to participate in activities promoting the regime’s 2025-26 elections on Wednesday. 

A source close to the Myanmar film industry confirmed to DVB that Phway Phway, 37, was detained for questioning by police during a film shoot in Pyin Oo Lwin, Mandalay Region, on Nov. 5. 

Kyaw Myo Min, the founder and editor-in-chief of the pro-military media outlet NP News, wrote that the regime’s ministry instructed Phway Phway and A Lin Yaung, who is a Myanmar Academy Award nominated actor, to respond to their request by Nov. 5. 

He claimed that they did not respond to the ministry and thus were detained. 

Phway Phway was reportedly released from detention on Nov. 6 but A Lin Yaung is reportedly still in detention. DVB contacted Phway Phway and A Lin Yaung to request more information about their ordeal but received no response.

The Information and Public Relations Department under the regime ministry told artists at the Myanmar Motion Picture Organization in Yangon on Oct. 31 that actions will be taken if they failed to cooperate in election campaign activities.