"In striving for development of the movie and video world, efforts are to be made for promoting the standard of acting, the quality of machines used in the film production and the status of cinematography, only then, Myanmar films of high quality will be able to penetrate the film market of other nations," Kyaw Hsan said at a ceremony here Sunday to mark the state-run Myanmar Motion Picture Enterprise's 38th anniversary.

He presented prizes to some outstanding movie staff and honored artists, producers, actors and technicians for their active participation in the realization of the country's seven-step roadmap and the May national referendum for their parts.

He also appraised personnel from the movie and video world for their contribution of their services in reconstruction of regions hit by severe cyclone storm Nargis early last month.

Myanmar has also occasionally urged artists in the country to make efforts in international cooperation to improve domestic movie industry, while preserving and safeguarding national cultural heritage, national prestige and national character through the arts of film.

Meanwhile, for the development of TV and movie sector, Myanmar sent delegations in the past few years to international radio, movie and TV shows, Beijing Film Festival and the 16th Chinese Golden Rooster Film Festival as well as to China's Hong Kong region and Singapore to learn digital camera technology and to India to study TV broadcasting.

In February this year, Myanmar presented 11 motion picture academy awards to successful film artists for 2006 to the country' s artists.

Myanmar formed the Motion Picture Promotion and Scrutiny Board in 1952 and since then 301 domestic academy awards have been presented to successful artists annually. - Xinhua