| TITLE OF THE FILM | A Waiting Room |
| DIRECTED BY | Saw Alvin Tun |
| LANGUAGE | Burmese (English Subtitles) |
| YEAR | 2024 |
| COUNTRY | Myanmar, Thailand |
| DURATION | 16 minutes 37 seconds |
| SPECIAL NOTE | International Premiere |
PRINCIPAL CREW & CAST
| WRITING | Saw Alvin Tun |
| CINEMATOGRAPHY | Pyae Sone |
| EDITING | Saw Alvin Tun |
| SOUND DESIGN | Min Ahkar Kyaw |
| SOUND MIXING | Sett Paing Oo |
| PRINCIPAL CAST | Min Thiha, Min Ahkar Kyaw |
ABOUT THE FILM
Ko Naing flees Myanmar to avoid the military service law and settles in Bangkok, a city known as a paradise for foreigners. But for him, life is far from ideal. As a Myanmar national, he struggles with prejudice and the irresponsible actions of his own people abroad. The rising inflation of Myanmar’s currency adds to his worries, while homesickness and loneliness begin to take their toll. His sense of reality starts to fade as he questions how long he can endure this uncertain and isolated life in a foreign land.
ABOUT THE DIRECTOR
Saw is a photographer and filmmaker with seven years of experience in photography and videography, specializing in commercial shoots, portraits, and music videos. He began his filmmaking journey in 2022 at Vision Creative Academy, where he developed a passion for visual storytelling. His debut short documentary, ‘The Deeper’, marked the start of his directorial career and is an Official Selection at the Chaktomuk Short Film Festival (CSFF) 2025. His second film, ‘A Waiting Room’, his first fiction work, has been selected at MINIKINO FILM WEEK (MFW) 11 and the 7th Nepal Cultural International Film Festival 2025, Sumedang Short Film Festival 2025.
DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT
This film tells the story of Myanmar’s middle class after the military junta announced the military service law in February 2024. Many young people fled the country to avoid being forced into service. They moved to Bangkok, Thailand, hoping for a better life.
While some call Thailand a paradise, it is not the same for Myanmar people. Thai authorities, like immigration officers and police, often take advantage of Myanmar migrants by demanding money and treating them unfairly. Even within the Myanmar community, some people take advantage of others by lying and stealing their money.
The inspiration for this film comes from my own experience as a Myanmar migrant in Thailand. This personal connection brings truth and emotion to the story, showing the real struggles and challenges faced by Myanmar people in a foreign land.
This short film highlights the struggles Myanmar people face in Bangkok; a city often seen by others as a paradise. For Myanmar migrants, however, life offers limited choices and countless challenges. The film is crafted with a slow pace, evoking a sense of nostalgia and loneliness.
