So far two Scandinavian movies are on top of the list, when Bangkok International Film Festival promotes itself prior to the seventh edition of the event in late September, The Nation reported on Tuesday.
The Danish documentarian Anders Ostergaard’s highly promoted “Burma VJ – Reporting from a closed country” will be shown as well as the Thailand-set Swedish thriller “Mammoth” directed by Swede Lukas Moodysson.
It is not only the Scandinavian movies that shall tempt people to show interest in the festival. The theme, “Old Hollywood Glamour”, means to combine the Hollywood’s 1930s golden era with Thailand’s of the 1960s, and more than 80 special features have been selected by the Thai Film Director’s Association.
“This year the trend for film festivals is to show serious movies and the Bangkok International Film Festival is no exception,” says programming director Pimpaka Towira to The Nation.
Big money, business, and Hollywood stars
The hope is that the fest will generate Bt3 billion worth of spending and deals for the film industry, officials said yesterday.
“The Tourism Authority of Thailand has invested Bt25 million out of Bt80 million, while the rest comes from the Federation of National Film Associations of Thailand and the private sector,” says Jareuk Kaljareuk, federation president and festival director.
Seminars will focus on business concerns. “We will bring foreign filmmakers and investors to share their experience with Thai filmmakers. It will portray how Thai film industry can build up the creative economy,” says Asst Prof Dr Chavana Pavaganun, festival vice-director
Action hero Jean-Claude Van Damme and South Korean actor Lee Byung-hun from “G.I Joe: The Rise of Cobra” will be among 200 stars strutting the red carpets. An opulent opening is set for CentralWorld while a welcoming banquet will be held on the Chao Phya. The Golden Kinnaree Awards are set for the Dusit Thani’s Chatrium Suites Bangkok.