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Film screenings are becoming more and more common in Chiang Mai, especially when you look beyond the usual Major and SFX screens. This weekend is no exception, with the launch of Hearing the Voice of the Absence – a three-day screening weekend bringing some seriously thought-provoking Thai and Japanese cinema to Suan Anya, all completely free.
The three-day programme covers film screenings, talks and even a historical walking tour around town, bringing together the art and culture of eight critically acclaimed Thai and Japanese filmmakers, each known for their explorations of memory, history and the voices often left unheard in more traditional narratives.
Taking place at Suan Anya (Northern people Historical Museum) from August 7-9, the free event is organised by the incredibly cool folks at Dude, Movie with support from The Japan Foundation in Bangkok.
Across documentaries, essay films and experimental cinema, the programme examines how landscapes, objects and people preserve traces of the past – and how film can recover stories that have been forgotten, erased or overlooked.
The screenings are divided into three themed programmes, each approaching ‘memory’ from a different perspective.
Hearing the Voice of the Absence – Thai and Japanese screening full schedule
Friday, August 7
5pm – Curator Talk
Nattakun Khamphinit (Dude, Movie) and Gohey Miyoshi (Asian Film Joint) discuss how Hearing the Voice of the Absence came together, from its original concept through to the final programme. The talk will be conducted in Thai and Japanese with Thai interpretation.
7pm – Film Screening – Programme 1: Landscape and the Order of Seeing (93 mins)
The opening programme explores landscapes as witnesses to history and the invisible forces that shape how places are remembered.
Tongpan (1977 / 64 min / Thai with English subtitles)
The Extinction of Landscape (1971 / 15 min / No dialogue)
Night Colonies (2021 / 14 min / Thai with English subtitles)
Saturday, August 8
9.30am – Historical Walking Tour
Walking Through Memory, led by Chiranthanin Kitika, explores significant buildings and historic sites around Chiang Mai University and the surrounding community. The walk will be conducted in Thai.
5pm – Film Screening – Programme 2.1: The Objects of Reminiscence (84 mins)
The second programme focuses on memory through physical objects, monuments and the human body, examining how their meanings evolve over time.
The World of Dementia (1986 / 84 min / Japanese with Thai and English subtitles)
7.30pm – Film Screening – Programme 2.2: The Objects of Reminiscence (67 mins)
The Cherry Tree with Gray Blossoms (1977 / 42 min / Japanese with Thai and English subtitles)
Local Sensations (2025 / 25 min / Thai with English subtitles)
Sunday, August 9
5pm – Keynote Lecture
The lecture will cover the topic ‘Between Political and Ultra-personal: Exploring the Duality in Post-60s Japanese Cinema’, presented by Koyo Yamashita in Japanese with Thai interpretation.
7.30pm – Film Screening – Programme 3: Rehearsing the Chronicle (128 mins)
Narrative (2025 / 49 min / Thai with English subtitles)
Double Layered Town / Making a Song to Replace Our Positions (2019 / 79 min / Japanese with Thai and English subtitles)
How to attend Hearing the Voice of the Absence – Film Screening and Conversations
The event is free to attend, but seating is limited and advance registration is recommended.
You can register and reserve a seat for any and all of the showings, talks, tours and lectures via TicketMelon