Bangkok International Film Festival kicks off this month

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) will open the Bangkok International Film Festival from July 19th to 29th in Bangkok, Thailand. The festival has been held annually since 2003.

Each year, the Bangkok International Film Festival showcases more than a hundred of features and short films, representing some of the best and the brightest in the current international cinema through its various programme sections. The event focuses on the works by emerging filmmakers throughtout Asia, and in particular those of the Southeast Asian region.

The Golden Kinnaree Awards are judged in the three competition categories by a panel of international jury. Running concurrently with the festival are also a number of sidebar events such as panel discussions, workshops, masterclasses, exhibitions as well as the Bangkok Film Market.

The Bangkok International Film Festival would like to invite public members and tourists to attend the event this month.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 06 July 2007

Since Jai Dee is slacking, here's the web link for the Bangkok Film Fest.

TAT gears up for Bangkok International Film Festival

The Bangkok International Film Festival was officially presented to the press on July 5th at CentralWorld in Bangkok, Thailand. The mall, the largest in Southeast Asia, will host the festival while SF World Cinema will screen over 130 movies.

The event was attended by the local Thai press as well as television and foreign media. Top managers from the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), the Federation of National Film Association of Thailand, executives of CentralWorld and SF Cinemas were in attendance.

Mr. Suraphon Svetasreni, the TAT's Deputy Governor for Marketing Communications, points out that this year’s festival is no less an event than any of the previous four years, although the emphasis has moved to support the Thai film industry and to offer an insight for students and new talents. The event will continue to attract massive number of tourists worldwide.

Although the budget for organizing the festival has been slashed, Mr. Suraphon says the event is being supported by various organizations such as the Federation of National Film Association of Thailand and the co-sponsors, CentralWorld and SF Cinemas

The 2007 Bangkok International Film festival will open from July 19th to 29th, and will be held at SF World Cinema and CentralWorld in Bangkok.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 12 July 2007

There was an item I think in the Post saying this will probably be the LAST Bangkok International Film Festival and that the TAT no longer wants anything to do with it. Now, it was absurd for a film festival to be sponsored by a tourism authority, but one thing they did accomplish was go from nothing to being very much on the map of international film festivals. Now, they are probably going to throw all of that away, and I find that a real waste and a shame. Some other organization should take over running the festival, I don't care who it is, could be a beer company or whatever.

In any case, for those who love international film, I suggest you attend this year's festival abundantly. Perhaps lots of ticket sales will increase the chances the festival will not die.

Are they really going to show "Shortbus"?

Are they really going to show "Shortbus"?

Apparently. Uncensored, too, which makes a change considering the junta that is currently ruling this country love nothing nore than banning controversial films (see Persopolis) or cutting them to shreds (SEE pLOY). I reckon they just haven't read up on Shortbus (see imdb if you're in the dark).

More power to artistically ignorant totalitarian states!

Festival movies are only shown a few times. It isn't surprising that such films would not have to go through the usual channels for nationwide release. Also, most of the crowd is usually farangs. Enjoy, because this is probably the very last Bangkok International Film Festival.