Thai Pitch returns to Cannes with four more new projects

After a five-year absence, the Thai Pitch returns this year to the Cannes Film Festival, bringing projects by Aditya Assarat, Boonsong Nakphoo, Pimpaka Towira and Somkiat Vithuranich to the Thai Pavilion on the Crossette.

Supported by the Culture Ministry, the Thai Pitch will be held on Saturday, May 18 at the Thai Pavilion. Producer Raymond Phathanavirangoon (Headshot) is the coordinator.

Here's the four projects:

A Culinary Murder, directed by Somkiat Vithuranich (October Sonata), produced by Pawas Sawatchaiyamet (Headshot, Red Eagle) – Born poor and raised as the kitchen maid to a wealthy, corrupt family, Anoma spends her childhood learning that the secrets to a man’s heart lie in his stomach. Enticed by her developed Thai culinary skills and arresting beauty, the gluttonous master of the house marries Anoma. She feeds him well, but as the years pass his rotten core poisons their relationship.

The General’s Secret, produced and directed by Pimpaka Towira (One Night Husband, The Truth Be Told) – Rian, young and idealistic NGO worker, lives with her mother who suffers from a chronic back pain. One day, she finds her mother's condition has gotten better after receiving a homeopathic massage therapy from an "auntie". The woman soon becomes a part of Rian and her mother's daily lives, but Rian starts to develop an inner conflict and decides to find out the auntie's secret. Incredibly, it goes back to the roots of Thailand's modern political history.

The Way Back, directed by Boonsong Nakphoo (the Deauville award-winner Four Stations, Poor People the Great), produced by Pantham Thongsang (Tropical Malady, Mid-Road Gang, Ai-Fak) – Sueb, the protagonist, decides to leave Bangkok behind and bring his family. Life in the countryside initially seems to be as joyful as anticipated, until stresses gradually pile up. In reality, life outside the cities is not easy.

The White Buffalo, directed by Aditya Assarat (Wonderful Town, Hi-So), prodcued by Aditya, Soros Sukhum (Mundane History, P-047) – Peter, a European, is married to a Thai woman and living in her village in Northeastern Thailand. Their situation reflects the colonial past, when white men came to the East to exploit and build their own paradise. But today, the balance of power has changed. The European is large only in body. He is no match for the cunning and deceit of the Thais.