Thailand Voice

The Hong Kong-Asia Film Financing Forum has dedicted an award to the memory of producer Wouter Barendrecht, which will go to new filmmakers. Barendrecht is credited with helping a generation of Asian filmmakers reach a global audience. In addition to such names as Wong Kar-wai and Iwai Shunji, the producer and co… Read full story >>>

Border trade fell about 10% last year, as a result of the global economic crisis, the PAD incitement against Cambodia and the increase in the number of Vietnamese and Chinese goods to substitute for Thai ones. However, prospects for the future are still considered positive because of the ASEAN Free Trade Agreement … Read full story >>>

The childhood drama The Happiness of Kati and the short version of the short-film anthology Sawasdee Bangkok will premiere at the Palm Springs International Film Festival . Kati , which is based on a SEA Write Award-winning novel by Jane Vejjajiva, makes its North American premiere. Directed by Genwaii… Read full story >>>

Pen-ek Ratanaruang is the subject of retrospective in the Contemporary Masters program of the 14th International Film Festival Kerala . On Sunday, he took part in the Meet the Directors discussion, sharing a table with Amit Rai and Malayalam filmmaker Ranjith as the … Read full story >>>

It seems that he is a more intelligent person than people give him credit for. I think he is very skilled at dividing people, dividing his rivals within his army and dividing his opponents. He is also skilled in tactics; … Read full story >>>

It’s film-festival season in India. In the second of two reports, Lekha Shankar looks at the Kerala International Film Festival’s retrospective for Pen-ek Ratanaruang, who’s had a busy year on the festival circuit with his latest feature, Nymph . Story by Lekha J. Shankar With no sleek multiplexes, no … Read full story >>>

A dark picture of Thailand’s capital, painted by four of the country’s filmmakers, Sawasdee Bangkok has had its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival to generally positive reviews and comments. Twitch’s Todd Brown has a full review . Here’s a snip: Though the complete Sawasdee Bangkok project features … Read full story >>>

One of the tensions, albeit minor, between PAD and the Democrats was over the removal of the old police chief and instilling the new one. Abhisit has removed this problem by putting, as even Acting Police Chief Thani, acknowledges, a friend of Sondhi L, Pol … Read full story >>>

It would be remiss of New Mandala not to join the many others who have congratulated Amy Chanthaphavong on her selection as Miss Asian America . She is the first Lao to wear this crown. Read full story >>>

Just to note there were a number of issues that BP didn’t get to blog on last week (police chief appointment update post NACC ruling, Bhum Jai Thai-Democrat tensions, red/Puea Thai fighting, constitution changes) etc. Hopes to do so this week. Read full story >>>

Indie filmmaker Anocha Suwichakornpong ’s debut feature Mundane History ( Jao Nok Krajok ) will have its world premiere in the New Currents competition at the 14th Pusan International Film Festival. The film was financed through various sources , including script-development and post-production support from the International Film Festival Rotterdam’s Hubert Bals … Read full story >>>

I was reading a story that there are apparently a lot of non government groups that are calling on the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), to stop Thailand’s infamous “Aids temple” – Wat Phrabat Namphu – from displaying corpses of “Aids patients” and “Such information about … Read full story >>>

Pen-ek Ratanaruang will serve on the jury for the New Currents Award at the 14th Pusan International Film Festival, according to a festival press release . The New Currents panel is headed by French filmmaker Jean-Jacques Beineix. Other members are Turkish director Yesim Ustaoglu, Taiwanese actress Terri Kwan, South Korean cinematographer Kim Hyungkoo. Pen… Read full story >>>

Published on August 20 were two announcements with subdistrict area definitions. Both only list some of the subdistricts of the respective district, and like the previous similar announcements include the lists of administrative villages (Muban) within the subdistricts affected. First one is on Khlong Hat district , Sa Kaeo province, defining the boundaries of 3 out of… Read full story >>>

“Amid chaotic scenes:” yes, it is the inaugural Asian Martial Arts Championship, which has been held here in Bangkok to even less than usual press coverage. Thailand won two gold medals yesterday (or possible the day before), one of which was for a young woman in… Read full story >>>

The Toronto International Film Festival will have the world premiere of four shorts by four of Thailand’s best filmmakers — Wisit Sasanatieng, Pen-ek Ratanaruang, Aditya Assarat and Kongdej Jaturanrasamee. Sawasdee Bangkok will screen in the Contemporary World Cinema section. From the TIFF press release, via Twitch : Directed by four distinctly talented Thai… Read full story >>>

In a recent posting about Thaksin Shinawatra’s birthday, there were some marvelous pictures of monks taking part in the festivities.  One pair showed some monks removing a curse, with their begging bowls used to signify the removal of the curse.  Other pictures showed live monks in conjunction with pictures of Thaksin (Actually, … Read full story >>>

The Thai Fruit, Passiflora Edulis has the exotic name of Passion Fruit. In Thailand, this Thai Fruit is known as Saowarot. Passiflora Edulis has purple, yellow or brownish skin depending on the variety and is oval or round in shape. The unripe Passion Fruit has green skin. When fully ripe Read full story >>>

The Banner and Garden in our Village of Whang Pho to honour our Queen The picture of our King and Queen that hangs above our bedroom door My Wife Chamaiporn Jupia Burgess (Toon) and Mother of NU and TOM My Mother… Read full story >>>

I’ve been in recovery of sorts for the past week since seeing Lav Diaz’s Melancholia , a breathtaking 7.5-hour drama that examines identity, memories and grief, and offers plenty of commentary on society and culture. When I briefly met Diaz last year at the Bangkok International… Read full story >>>

Recently bookmarked Sean Turnell: How Myanmar’s Corrupt Junta Robbed Burma – WSJ.com – “Burma Isn’t Broke: The junta, not a lack of resources, is to blame for the people’s poverty.” The Longest Way 1.0 (video) – Time-lapse: walking around China for a year Hull seal loan … Read full story >>>

The Bangkok Post : The Sondhi case might put pressure on the defence minister as well. Police chief Patcharawat Wongsuwon, who was forced to take an overseas trip to give police a clear shot at the Sondhi investigation, is Gen Prawit’s younger brother. PAD leader… Read full story >>>

[Political Prisoners in Thailand] Newin is Lucky Again [Newspapers have reported that the Election Commission has rejected complaints against the government coalition partner the Bhum Jai Thai Party and its boss Newin Chidchob (The Nation, 6 August 2009: “EC rejects complaints against Bhum Jai Thai, Newin”).] BP: Newin’s … Read full story >>>

Mum Jokmok’s comedy Wongkamlao held the top spot at the Thai box office for two weeks before surrendering to Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince for the weekend of July 16-19, according to the latest Box Office Mojo chart. Even then, Mum’s … Read full story >>>

As his latest film Nymph looms closer to the July 1 release in Thailand and September’s North American premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, Pen-ek Ratanaruang is giving interviews to major media outlets. Among them is The Wall Street Journal.Pen-ek talks to writer Dean Napolitano about what Nymph is about, how… Read full story >>>

Remember Visit Myanmar Year? Back in 1996 the regime was touting its country as a new Southeast Asian destination for package tourists and those looking for an exotic alternative to more familiar and popular countries in the region. That year it targeted … Read full story >>>

Pen-ek Ratanaruang’s jungle ghost story Nymph (Nang Mai) is among a slate of 26 titles announced for the Toronto International Film Festival.Nymph, about a haunting supernatural love affair involving a forest spirit and a young couple who’ve drifted apart, will make its North American premiere in the … Read full story >>>

Art films don’t tend to do well in Thai cinemas. And Thailand’s bigger studios try to avoid making them. Recently, one big-name producer was able to convince a studio head to give a greenlight only after he ensured the exec that his director’s … Read full story >>>

Todd Brown at Twitch says there are two versions of Pen-ek Ratanaruang’s new thriller Nymph (Nang Mai, นางไม้) — one the quiet arthouse thriller that played to mixed reviews in Cannes and the other a “more commercial and horror tinged” cut that will play for Thai… Read full story >>>

May was a big month for myself having spent three weeks in Thailand and enjoying myself to the full. It was a relatively quiet month for Thailand in general, however this did not stop the Thai blog scene from once again turning out … Read full story >>>