Thailand’s Suphannahong movie awards boycotted

[snoop1130]

 

Many Thai movie directors, playwrights, actors, actresses, along with other people in movie industry, have used social media to withdraw from being nominated in the Suphannahong National Film Awards, as the National Federation of Motion Pictures and Contents Association announces new criteria for the nomination of movies, which will automatically rule out low-budget and independent movies.

 

The new criteria stipulate that:

 

• Movies must be shown in cinemas, movies distributed on streaming platforms only do not qualify.
• Movies must be in shown cinemas in 5 regions of Thailand or in big cities such as Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Chonburi, Nakhon Ratchasima and Nakhon Sri Thammarat.
• Audiences amount to 50,000 people or more.

 

This means that independent movies, as well as the people who work to create a variety of choice for Thai audiences, will not qualify for nomination. These new criteria have also sparked controversy and questions over whether the awards are just favoring the two big cinema groups, Major Cinemas and SF Cinemas, by only allowing movies that are backed by and shown in these two cinema chains to win awards.

 

Full Story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/thailands-suphannahong-movie-awards-boycotted/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2023-03-31

 

- Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here.

 

The most versatile and flexible rental investment and holiday home solution in Thailand - click for more information.

[ukrules]

Good

[RichardColeman]

12 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Audiences amount to 50,000 people or more.

When I go to see ANY movie in Thailand there is usually less than a half dozen people in the cinema with us, this would mean nearly ALL movies here would never get to 50,000

[hotchilli]

12 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

These new criteria have also sparked controversy and questions over whether the awards are just favoring the two big cinema groups, Major Cinemas and SF Cinemas, by only allowing movies that are backed by and shown in these two cinema chains to win awards.

Stop the monopolies.

Nice to see this going ahead.

[Purdey]

The awards should go to big and small films, commercial and independent. 

Independent directors win awards abroad that make Thailand look good.

I saw Apichatpong Weerasethakul at a special screening of Blissfully Yours in Bangkok. It was banned by the government and commercial movie houses wouldn't release it to the general public but won Un Certain Regard at Cannes. He would never have won in Thailand and was unrecognized here. Later, after everyone else in the world screamed his name, the government recognized his PR value. 

This is a silly change of rules as someone must have said that a piffling local award must be compared with the Oscars.

Change the rules back to "all can be considered." 

Edited April 1, 2023 by Purdey

[Burma Bill]

17 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

only allowing movies that are backed by and shown in these two cinema chains to win awards.

So, unfair Thai protectionism in the cinema industry as well. If cinema goers would boycott screenings for just a week, I'm sure the "big 2" would change their minds!