With the at-times violent demonstrations and the political crisis, film fans might worry that the Bangkok International Film Festival will be cancelled.
It won't be. Despite the continuing demonstrations, life goes on as it ordinarily does. Taxis and buses are all still running. Shopping centers are all still open.
Bangkok is not dangerous. People are free to come and go as they please.
And that includes heading out to see a movie, or a bunch of movies.
Woody Allen's Vicky Cristina Barcelona, starring Penelope Cruz and Scarlett Johansson, will open the Bangkok International Film Festival, reports
Nonzee Nimibutr's historical epic, Queens of Langkasuka will mark the gala, red-carpoet opening of the Thailand Entertainment Expo -- the industry fair that's running concurrently with the film fest. Also, in about four hours from this writing, Queens is being featured in a midnight screening at the Venice Film Festival.
A slate of Southeast Asian films has been announced as well for the Bangkok Int'l. Here's a quote from programmer Pimpaka Towira:
We want to put an emphasis on emerging Southeast Asian filmmakers. Bangkok should play the role of a regional film center more seriously."
Of the Southeast Asian lineup, I'll be pretty excited to see 12 Lotus by Singapore's Royston Tan, featuring the same great cast from his previous film, the musical 881. There's also Woo Ming-jin's Days of Turquoise Sky from Malaysia, and from the Philippines we'll have Raya Martin's Now Showing, John Torres' Years When I Was a Child Outside and Brillante Mendoza's provocative Serbis.
(Via Variety Asia Online)
Kong says he wrote the Variety article. And there's more at the Bangkok Post, here and here.
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