IPFW screens movie before a Nobel Peace Prize winner visits Fort Wayne

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - IPFW sponsored a free screening of the documentary "They Call it Myanmar: Lifting the Curtain," and it was standing room only.

"We're very excited that this was so successful," said Jonah Crismore, the Executive Director of Cinema Center.

The lines Sunday evening might be a premonition of Tuesday's visit of Aung San Suu Kyi.

"Well we're really hoping that people will find this useful in understanding the political situation in Burma today in light of the visit of Aung San Suu Kyi, so just to introduce people if they don't know anything about Burma," said Nancy Virtue, who organized the documentary screening.

The Nobel Peace Prize Winner is coming to Fort Wayne Tuesday morning for a free speech at the Coliseum.
She is responsible for helping free Myanmar, or Burma, from the Japanese regime that killed more than 10,000 Burmese people.

Roze Na, who is Burmese, said Suu Kyi is a role model for her.

"She helped give us our freedom, and she helped with our religion," said Na.

Other community members are happy to be a part of what they call history for Fort Wayne.

"My students and I are very excited about the fact that Aung San Suu Kyi is coming to Fort Wayne," said Kathleen Murphey, a professor at IPFW. "I think it's a tremendous honor."

Sunday's screening of "They Call it Myanmar, Lifting the Curtain" gave insight into the Burmese culture and the history of violence that's plagued the country.

"It's a very real look at conditions and with real people that live in Burma," said Crismore.

Organizers also hope this movie will bring awareness to a culture that's prominent here in Fort Wayne.

"To raise awareness not just about Burma and the political context of Aung San Suu Kyi's visit, but also to give some information about the Burmese refugees living within the Fort Wayne community," Virtue said.

The screening was followed by a small reception and discussion. The theatre reached capacity, and people had to be turned away. However, Crismore says they are working to hopefully bring another free screening of the film back to Fort Wayne.