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Documentary films in Thailand often feel like they exist in some unreachable corner of the film world, reserved for serious cinephiles or industry insiders. The Have You Seen Documentary Film Festival wants to prove you wrong. This isn't your typical cinema event where you sit in silence and leave quietly after the credits roll. It's an invitation to see reality through someone else's lens and discover that real life can be every bit as gripping as any blockbuster.
What makes this festival particularly special is its origin story. On March 21, four final-year students at Srinakharinwirot University decided their thesis project needed to mean something beyond a grade. They ended up creating Thailand's first non-profit independent documentary festival, hand-picking four remarkable films and bringing the actual filmmakers into the room for proper conversations. No pretension, just honest exchanges about the stories these documentaries tell.
Event Schedule
10am-11.40am – Somboon
Eternal love exists, and this film proves it through the quiet devotion of Grandpa Somboon. For 45 years he's cared for Grandma Miad, his wife who lives with serious kidney disease. Their marriage started as an arrangement with no sweet words exchanged, yet every small gesture speaks louder than any grand declaration. You'll feel their love story in your chest.
Midday-2.10pm – School Town King
When the education system promises dreams but delivers disappointment, Book and Non take matters into their own hands. These young men from Khlong Toey slums use rap music to call out inequality and carve their own escape route from poverty. In a world obsessed with academic achievement, they're writing their own rules and becoming kings on their own terms.
2.30pm-3.15pm – Curious Talk
This is where you get to meet the people behind the lens. Wattanapume Laisuwanchai from Eyedropper fill joins director Aekaphong Saransate and Elevenfinger, who stars in School Town King. Ask your questions, dig deeper and hear the stories behind the stories.
3.35pm-5.15pm – Boundary
A group of Bangkok teenagers head to the Thai-Cambodia border to understand what life looks like in disputed territory. This documentary searches for beauty where most people only see conflict, exploring the lives and perspectives of those caught in the middle. It's about finding understanding when borders get complicated.
5.35pm-6.15pm – Different POV Session
An open floor for anyone curious about Thai documentary filmmaking. Industry professionals and interested audiences share ideas and perspectives, building bridges between those who make films and those who watch them. New thinking happens when different voices meet.
6.45pm-7.50pm – Scala
The final chapter of Bangkok's last standalone cinema gets preserved on film. The director, whose parent once worked at Scala, captures employees gathering to dismantle the workplace they loved. It's a bittersweet goodbye to a Bangkok institution, told through the people who kept its projectors running.
At Cinema Oasis Sukhumvit 43 on March 21 with free admission. Reserve seats here. Time 10am-8pm. Follow more details at haveyouseen.dff