Bangkok Film FesTival takes on classic theme

The 7th Bangkok International Film Festival 2009 (BKKIFF), to be held between 24-30 September, 2009, will assume a strong social and regional thematic focus with films that emphasise the theme of change of an era.

“The film programme will reflect and display the growing strength of filmmakers in the ASEAN region, the role of film in rapidly changing societies, and the technological developments that have made this possible. It will focus particularly on the new generation of filmmakers in the region, throughout Asia, and around the world,” said Jareuk Kaljareuk, chairman of the Federation of National Film Associations of Thailand (FNFAT), and festival director of BKKIFF 2009,

The focus on Southeast Asian filmmakers is especially important in the context of the new direction of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to create a stronger 10-member community of nations banded together under the slogan “One Vision, One Identity, One Sharing and Caring Community.”

It is also in line with the objective of making BKKIFF the foremost film festival of Southeast Asia.

Supported for the 7th year by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), this year’s BKKIFF will showcase approximately 80 films from across the world. The two competitive sections will comprise the Main Competition, featuring films by first and second-time directors, and the Southeast Asian Competition, featuring films from the region.

The films will be shown at SF World Cinema, Central World, and Paragon Cineplex, Siam Paragon. The Golden Kinnaree Awards ceremony will be held at the Chatrium Suites Bangkok.

Directors of programming, Ms Pimpaka Towira and Ms Mai Meksawan have scoured the globe to put together a programme of fresh and creative filmmaking. The Thai Film Directors Association oversees the artistic direction of the festival under the aegis of its president, the well-known filmmaker Yongyoot Thongkongtoon.

Weerasak Kowsurat, chairman of TAT, said: “BKKIFF is considered an important international festival which now attracts respect and support within both the domestic and international film industries. Moreover, it raises the profile of Thailand as a nation of culture and has tangible economic benefits.

“Thanks to the continued co-operation and commitment of all participants, it has become a great opportunity to promote both the Thai film industry and Thailand as the entertainment hub of the region and an international filmmaking centre.”

Among the celebrities, directors, and producers expected to attend BKKIFF 2009 are action star, Jean-Claude Van Damme, who will present his new action feature, Armand Assante, the well-known martial arts and action icon, and Byung-hun Lee, the Korean star who played Storm Shadow in the Hollywood blockbuster, G.I.Joe: The Rise of the Cobra.

The theme of this year’s festival is ‘Beauty Eternal’, which reflects the period of the 60s. In line with that, the opening ceremony, to be held in front of Central World, will take on a classical theme, emphasising the rich cultural heritage of Thailand, and the important and long- held role of film within Thai culture.

A seminar and workshop programme will be held from 25-29 September 2009 at the Chatrium Suites, Bangkok.

The TAT has a strategic objective to encourage more films to be shot in Thailand, as it seeks to promote the Kingdom as a quality destination. Top locations for international film shoots in Thailand include Bangkok, Chonburi, Chiang Mai, and Phuket.

Last year’s festival was a bold programme of films, informative seminars and a variety of local and international stars which made for a successful festival, attracting more than 15,000 attendees and generating positive feedback. The festival hopes to build on that success.