The 8th World Film Festival of Bangkok
5 - 14 November, 2010
Paragon Cineplex and Major Cineplex Sukhumvit (Ekamai)
"Emotions Unleashed"
The 8th World Film Festival of Bangkok introduces around 150 movies from around the world. French post-New-Wave director Jacques Doillon and Turkish director Nuri Bilge Ceylan will attend the festival. The Thai indie film "Eternity" ("Tee Rak") will be the opener.
Kriengsak "Victor" Silakong, director of the World Film Festival of Bangkok (WFFBKK), says the movies will be shown in nine sections: Asian Contemporary; Cinema Beat; Cine Latino; Doc Feast; Short Wave; Guts Nouveau; Music & Dance A la Carte, New Turkish Cinema and Retrospective.
There are several "must-see" movies in the festival, including "Insects in the Backyard", the debut feature by indie director Tanwarin Sukhapisit, which premiered at the Vancouver International Film Festival. It'll make its Thai premiere at the WFFBKK.
Others are "Red Dragonflies" from Singapore, which has been awarded at many film festivals; "The Well", a coming-of-age drama from India; "Au Revoir Taipei", a new romantic comedy from Taiwan; "Cold Water of the Sea" from Costa Rica, which won a Tiger Award at this year's International Film Festival Rotterdam; "The Famous and the Dead", a new teenage flick from Brazil; "Curling" from Canada, winner of two awards at the Locarno film festival this year; and "A Film Unfinished", Yael Hersonski's powerful documentary that portrays people behind and before the camera in the Warsaw Ghetto during Nazi occupation in World War II.
The opening film "Eternity" ("Tee Rak") by Sivaroj Kongsakul, represents the new blood of Thai independent cinema. His first feature explores the three stages of a man's life, from his romance as a young man to the woman who will be his wife, then as a ghost wandering his childhood home and finally as a void in the lives of those he left behind. It's a tribute to his father, who died when Sivaroj was a child.
Sivaroj is well known in Thailand's independent cinema scene. His short films "Always" and "Silencio" have won prizes in various film festivals. He has worked as an assistant director for Aditya Assarat, Pen-Ek Ratanaruang and Wisit Sasanatieng. "Eternity" ("Tee Rak") premiered in the New Currents competition at the 2010 Pusan International Film Festival, and the World Film Festival of Bangkok hosts the movie's Thai premiere.
The festival's prestigious Lotus Award this year will be given to Nuri Bilge Ceylan, one of the most important filmmakers from Turkey. We are thrilled to have him in person and meet the audience on the opening night and for the screening of "Three Monkeys".
The opening ceremony of the 8th World Film Festival of Bangkok will be held in the Infinity Hall of Paragon Cineplex on 5 November, 2010, at 6pm.
French director Jacques Doillon will be praised in the Retrospective section. He will attend the festival to present five of his movies: "Touched in the Head" (1974), "The Little Gangster" (1990), "Ponette" (1996), "Just Anybody" (2008), "The Three Way Wedding" (2010) and one documentary about his life and works: "Jacques Doillon – Words and Emotion" (1998) by Anne Brochet and Françoise Dumas. This is a rare chance for Bangkok audiences to watch Doillon's films and meet the director.
With support from the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Tourism of Turkey and Turkish Airlines, the festival presents New Turkish Cinema, a section that focuses on five outstanding contemporary Turkish films: "Envy" by Zeki Demirkubuz, "Kosmos" by Reha Erdem , "Vavien" by Durul Taylan and Yagmur Taylan, "Wrong Rosary" by Mahmut Fazil Coskun and "Honey" by Semih Klaplanoglu.
Another exciting part of the WFFBKK is the poster competition. We received so many great poster designs and many of them are full of creative ideas.
As with past years, the closing celebration will have a "Celebrity Look Alike" competition. This year, with generous support by Thai Life Insurance Co., Ltd., we are going with the special theme "Vampire Party". Get ready for the fun on 13 November, 2010, from 6pm onward.
The 8th World Film Festival of Bangkok is co-organised by The Office of Contemporary Art and Culture, the Ministry of Culture, The Nation, Major Cineplex Group Plc, Paragon Cineplex, Nation Broadcasting Corporation and Mango TV. It is supported by Singha Corporation Co., Ltd., Thai Life Insurance Co., Ltd., FedEx Express and Turkish Airlines, with the cooperation of the foreign embassies in Thailand and special cooperation of The Embassy of Turkey, The Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Thailand, The Embassy of France, The Embassy of Brazil, The Embassy of Switzerland, The Embassy of India, The Embassy of Peru, The Embassy of Israel and The Embassy of Portugal. Other media supporters include Happening Magazine, Bioscope Magazine and Music & Art Magazine.
The 8th World Film Festival of Bangkok will be held at Paragon Cineplex and Major Cineplex Sukhumvit (Ekamai) from 5 to 14 November, 2010. Tickets are Bt100 and Bt50 for students. For more information please check out www.WorldFilmBKK.com.
