Bangkok Film Festival

Karen Krizanovich reports back from the exotic Thai festival of film.

Mar  7 2006

One of the top global film festivals despite its relative youth, the Fourth Annual Bangkok Film Festival's ten days (February 17-27) screened more than150 films, featuring increasingly remarkable home-grown fare along with important international titles.

Sharing an affinity with the UK film industry, there was also considerable input from British film professionals in the festival's industry lectures.

Located primarily on the 5th floor of the spanking new shopping centre Siam Paragon, the BKFF celebrated the career of Catherine Deneuve, who was personally awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award by HRH Princess Ubol Rattana.

Although early in the festival year, many of the BKFF winners have already been released in the UK: Best Doc winner 'Rize' by David LaChappelle, Best Actor for Presley Chaweneyagae in 'Tsotsi' as well as Best Director for Park Chan-Wook's 'Lady Vengeance'.

While the BKFF awards themselves were more mainstream, aligned with global rather than local taste, Asian entrants were well-represented, among them the Vietnam drama 'The Bride Of Silence', directed by Doan Minh Phuong and Doan Thanh Nghi.

Its opening film, 'Invisible Waves', a visually startling and spooky Japanese/Thai/British production, premiered at the Berlinale, the first Thai film in 25 years to be invited.

Other notable films such as 'Stolen Life', 'Sunflower' and 'Buried Forest' had previous outings at the Cannes, Tribeca and San Sebastian film festivals, but they sat comfortably next to Thai films such as the Jameson's People's Choice Award-winner 'Art Of The Devil 2', directed by Kongkiat Khomsiri.

Giving Best Picture to 'Water', a harrowing and daring Canadian/Indian production directed by Deepa Metha, is another indication that the BKFF is not the parochial fest many have previously thought.

With an up-and-coming industry vying with its established reputation as a location hotspot, Thailand is clearly embracing world cinema more effortlessly than many a European country.

 

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