It’s time to take a world tour… right here in Bangkok. The 9th World Film Festival in Bangkok was supposed to happen in 2011, but lets play like the BMA and blame the belated roster on the flood. Anyways it’s quite a line-up that runs until Jan. 27 at Esplanade, and you can check out the full line up and schedule here.
The festival seems geared towards both Thai and farang crowds. There are Cannes favorites such as Argentinian film Las Acacias and Un homme qui crie, but Thailand has a large representation in the movies as well. One female Thai journalist documents the plight of Southeast asian refugees in My Rohingya. One that will hit closer to home with the recent democratic upheavals and the reactionary post-flood government commentary will be Lung Neaw Visits His Neighbors, where a film crew follows around an old Thai man living off the land in Northern Thailand.
The Esplanade movie theater is located in Esplanade shopping center on Ratchadapisek. Take the MRT to Thailand Cultural Center and exit number 3. Turn left out of the exit. Tickets are around THB 200 and available on the 2nd floor, however the entrance to the theater is on the 3rd floor. Average Thai movie theater grub, except they have an exciting popcorn flavor: strawberry!
To wrap up the festival, there will be a FREE outdoor screening of Chilean animated short film Earthly Paradise. Following Earthly Paradise, the musical drama collection of shorts from prolific Finnish director Aki Kaurismaki will screen. The event begins at 6 pm tonight Jan. 27 at Village Square on Rama IX Road.
Trailers for My Rohingya and Lung Neaw Visits his Neighbors are below.
