Meet Ko Thar Gyi, a 33-year-old from Mae Sot. He grew up in Yangon. Before the coup he was working as an administrative employee at the Ministry of the Union Government Office in the capital Nay Pyi Taw. His true passion has always been filmmaking. Since 2016, he has participated in various short film festivals and contests, where he was shortlisted multiple times and even won awards for his creations. However, he pursued a career in government due to familial expectations, as he was born into a family of civil service officers.
When the military seized power in February 2021, Ko Thar Gyi did not stand on the sidelines – he joined the protests and became an outspoken advocate for the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM). However, standing up for his beliefs came at a high cost. In April 2021, just two months after the coup, his home was raided, forcing him to flee for his and his family’s safety. He took refuge in the liberated areas of Karen State, where he spent nearly a year in hiding with a close friend, while also engaging in charity work to support those impacted by the conflict. Though the period was filled with uncertainty, it only strengthened his determination to fight for what he believed in.
In early 2022, with the help of media contacts in Mae Sot, Ko Thar Gyi made his way to safety at the Thai Myanmar border. This marked a pivotal moment in his life. In the border town of Mae Sot, he fully embraced his passion for storytelling and filmmaking, using his experiences as a powerful tool for change.
Thar Gyi made a documentary film titled Yearning in 2023, which depicts the lives of migrant workers who have lost their labor rights and are being exploited while working in Thailand. The title Yearning demonstrates their desire for Myanmar to be peaceful as soon as possible so that they can return to their homeland.
His other documentary titled Unfaded was featured in the Irrawaddy News in 2024, where he told the real-life story of a man with 20 years of experience as an employee in the court of justice, who has been part of the Civil Disobedience Movement since 2021.
In 2023, Ko Thar Gyi received Exile Hub’s Critical Voices Production Grant. He was selected for his passion for providing multimedia training to young people in liberated areas, where access to such resources is often limited. While many online training options exist, few have the courage to conduct in-person sessions like Ko Thar Gyi. His efforts were greatly appreciated by the trainees. Ko Thar Gyi’s journey from a government employee to a filmmaker is a testament to resilience and the transformative power of creativity in the face of adversity.
He also expressed candid thoughts on the international community’s response to the crisis in Myanmar, stating:
“The brutality of the military dictatorship in Myanmar is no longer under close scrutiny. If the international community truly cares about the people of Myanmar, I urge them to provide timely and effective assistance. The slower the response, the more people in Myanmar will face torture and death.”
As we spoke with Ko Thar Gyi earlier this month, he shared words of encouragement for future Exile Hub Fellows.
“As someone who has been a [Hub] Fellow for two consecutive years, I can confidently say that the Exile Hub fellowship has allowed me to share my passion for filmmaking with young people eager to learn. For those who applied and were not selected, do not lose hope – apply again next year! Your opportunity may be just around the corner.”
Over 30 Aspiring Youth in both Karen State and Mae Sot Participate in the Seven-Day Training Programs.
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