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| Apichatpong's Mekong Hotel screens on May 18. |
With the only Thai film in the Cannes Film Festival's official selection, Mekong Hotel by Apichatpong Weerasethakul, screening on May 18, the Thai film industry and government officials want to celebrate with their annual Thai Night, set for that Friday night in the Grand Salon at the InterContinental Carlton Cannes.
More about the function is explained in the press release that follows:
Presided over by Her Royal Highness Princess Ubolratana Rajakanya Sirivadhana Barnavadi, Thai Night 2012 will be the occasion to celebrate another banner year for Thai cinema.
Palme d'Or winner Apichatpong Weerasethakul is back in the official selection with Mekong Hotel. Also present in Cannes this year is an eclectic new wave of Thai filmmakers who will be showcasing their work at the International Film Market.
Meanwhile, Thailand is cementing its position as one of the most popular filming destinations in Asia. Over the past 15 months, a record 798 foreign productions were filmed in Thailand, including feature films such as Luc Besson's The Lady and Nicolas Winding Refn's Only God Forgives starring Ryan Gosling.
The country's beautiful sceneries and low production costs are not the only reasons for Thailand's growing appeal as a filming location. Thailand now offers among the most skilled and experienced film personnel and technical services available in Asia, from production crews to post-production services, animation and visual effects.
Taking note of the potential of Thailand's film sector, the Royal Thai Government has recently announced new incentives for foreign productions, including full income tax exemption for foreign actors.
All this and more will be at the centre of Thai Night 2012 – Where Films Come Alive, a reception organized by the Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP), Thai Ministry of Commerce.
Attended by Senior Thai Government officials, business leaders and members of the film and entertainment industry, the reception will offer international film professionals and the media an opportunity to meet and greet the Thai filmmakers and talent present in Cannes and forge new ties with the Thai film industry.
Attendance at this event is by invitation only.
To request an invitation, please contact ThaiNightCannes2012 [at] gmail.com.
Apichatpong is expected to be a guest that night.
Market screenings will include Yuthlert Sippapak's hitman drama Friday Killer, the lesbian romance She, the Five Star horror Dark Flight 3D, something called Spirits Wars and a couple of computer-animated features, Echo Planet 3D and Sahamongkol's Yaak.
Is there going to be a public screening?
ReplyDeletePublic screening of what?
DeleteMekong Hotel. I wasn't sure if the one on the 18th May was public or not.
DeleteKit
Yeah, it's public as far as that goes in Cannes, where it's notoriously difficult to get into screenings. Hopefully, Mekong Hotel will be shown in Thailand at a film festival or some other public function.
DeleteThanks for that. I misunderstood and thought there was going to be a screening in Thailand on the 18th. I'll look forward to if/when it makes here.
DeleteI'm becoming quite a fan of Apichatpong.