THURSDAY, March 28, 2024
nationthailand

Hunt for the Silver Screen

Hunt for the Silver Screen

Some of 2016's best Thai features and shorts have been selected for the Singapore International Film Festival

SOME 161 feature and short films from 52 countries including 11 from Thailand are to be screened at the upcoming Singapore International Film Festival taking place across the city state from November 23 to December 4.
Six of the Thai films, namely “By the Time It Gets Dark” by Anocha Suwichakompong, “Wandering” by Boonsong Nakphoo, “A Little Tiger” by Nutthapon Rakkatham, “500,000 Years” by Chai Siris, “Prelude to the General” by Pimpaka Towira and “Demos” (2016) by Danaya Chulphuthiphong, will be in competition for a Silver Screen Award.
Other noteworthy Thai works to be shown out of competition are Apichatpong Weerasethakul’s “Art Through Our Eyes”; “Bangkok Nites” by Japanese director Katsuya Tomita; “Khun Pan” by Kongkiat Khomsiri starring Ananda Everingham and Krisada Sukosol Clapp “Diamond Island” by Cambodian-French filmmaker Davy Chou and the classic “Santi-Vina”, the first film in Thailand that was shot in 35mm in colour with sound.
Bangkok Nites (2016 is a four-country co-production together by Thailand, Japan, France and Laos, which tells the story of Bangkok working ladies and their Japanese clientele. Apichatpong’s new work is an anthology and brings together four of his fellow Southeast Asian filmmakers – Brillante Mendoza, Joko Anwar, Ho Yuhang and Eric Khoo.
The leading international film platform in Southeast Asia, SGIFF, which is part of the annual Singapore Media Festival (SMF), is now in its 27th year. As ever. it will be bringing together a rich mix of independent filmmaking talent to showcase the region’s stories through film. It is divided into 13 sections – Opening, Special Presentation, Silver Screen Awards, Singapore Panorama, Asian Vision, Cinema Today, Imagine, Classics, Focus: Mutating Mythologies – Hybrid Cinema of Latin America, For Nizam: A Retrospective, Focus: Naomi Kawase, Tribute to Fruit Chan and An Evening with Darren Aronofsky.
SGIFF will also welcome Malaysian director Ho Yuhang with his new film “Mrs K”, which had its world premiere at the 2016 Busan International Film Festival.
Starring iconic Hong Kong martial arts actress Kara Wai, Hong Kong veteran actor Simon Yam, Malaysian actor Faizal Hussein and Taiwanese rocker Wu Bai, the Malaysia-Hong Kong co-production follows a housewife, whose ordinary life is shaken up when former enemies reappear from her past, and she has to give everything she has to protect her husband and daughter. Ho, Wai and Wu will be in attendance for the Singapore premiere on November 27 at the Capitol Theatre.
Another Special Presentation is “Three Sassy Sisters”, a homage to Indonesian musical classic Tiga Dara. Featuring catchy musical numbers, the film pairs some of Indonesia’s rising stars with cinema and television veterans. The ensemble cast includes actor/singer Rio Dewanto; actor and rockstar from the band Channel, Reuben Elishama; Indonesian acting heavyweight Ray Sahetapy; and most notably, singing and song writing legend Titiek Puspa, who is returning onscreen after a 30-year absence.
In addition to screening films from Asia, USA and Europe, SGIFF will also highlight independent films such as Estonian animation shorts, Nepalese shorts and Latin American Cinema. Featured works include the world premiere of “i_Mutating” by Tiger Award winner Juan Daniel F Molero, and the Asian premiere of “Hermia & Helena” – an imaginative Shakespearean-inspired feature by acclaimed Argentinean filmmaker Mateas Pineiro.
This year too, SGIFF will organise a series of dialogue sessions with the ArtScience Museum for “ArtScience on Screen: In Conversation With”. They include a session with Darren Aronofsky, (“Black Swan”). Known for his dark, edgy independent films that centre on characters with obsessive and self-destructive personalities, the award-winning American director, screenwriter and producer will be sharing his experiences and insights on filmmaking with festival goers at an In Conversation session. The festival will also screen his first feature film “Pi”, which won him the Best Director at the Sundance Film Festival in 1998.
The festival will also present the Cinema Legend Award to Hong Kong veteran actor Simon Yam. Introduced last year, the Cinema Legend Award recognises the body of work of Asian actors, celebrating the talent and outstanding achievements of the artists who bring Asia’s story to life on screen. A household name after starring in popular television series such as “Return of the Condor Heroes” (1983) and “New Heavenly Sword and Dragon Sabre” (1986), Yam entered the film industry in 1987 and has since appeared in over 200 movies, becoming one of the most-respected, charismatic and sought-after leading actors.
Aspiring, emerging and established filmmakers will also be able to participate in the ‘Future of Cinema’ forum on the navigation of the digital space in presenting their works, which will feature speakers such as film strategist Missy Laney, Jared Geller, executive producer for HitRecords – the community-sourced production company founded by Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and director of programming at the Hawaii International Film Festival Anderson Le.

 

 

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