Gone in nine minutes
9FilmFest returns for a third edition with a new sponsor, and a new car as the top prize.
The 9FilmFest is back for its third outing, this year offering the grand prize of a car, thanks to its new sponsor, Toyota. Now called the Style by Toyota 9FilmFest, the annual short-film competition challenges filmmakers to craft a nine-minute movie that incorporates the festival’s “signature item”, which changes every year.
This time around, the “9SI” is “waterway”, which means the films must somehow feature a river, stream or a canal – moving-water features that are easy to find around Thailand.
“The symbol ensures that the films have been created for our festival,” says Brian Bennett, who created the 9FilmFest in 2011. An old festival hand, he founded the original Bangkok Film Festival in 1998.
The maker of the best film will drive away in “a brand new Toyota Vios”.
Picking the driver will be a jury that’s set to include actor Ananda Everingham, film critics Kong Rithdee and John Anderson, directors Tanwarin Sukkhapisit, Prachya Pinkaew, Areeya Chumsai and Adam Yukol and producer Yuthana Boonorm.
The deadline for entries is August 15 with the nine finalist films unspooling on September 21 and 22 at Paragon Cineplex. For more details, visit www.Facebook.com/9FILMFEST.
ON THE EDGE OF 17
One of the defining characteristics of the annual Thai Short Film and Video Festival is the Marathon, in which all the films submitted are shown over the course of the month before the festival. I don’t know of any other film festival that does this sort of thing.
Numbering around 450 entries, this year’s Marathon starts on Tuesday. Screenings will be in the FA Cinematheque on the second floor of the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre, Tuesday through Friday from 5 to 8.30 and Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays from 11am to 8.30pm.
The 17th Thai Short and Video Festival is set for August 22 to September 1 at the BACC. For more, check www.Facebook.com/|ThaiShortFilmVideoFestival.
