Film budgets are not going to the right productions

The Culture Ministry’s recent submission of the film “Kon Khon”, a major box-office flop, to the Academy Awards has generated hot debate about the criteria and suitability of Thai films destined for the Oscar nominations process. 

While this well-intentioned move is an avenue for Thai filmmakers to gain recognition overseas, our culture officials need to listen not only to a certain group of well-connected, influential film-industry figures but also to struggling independent filmmakers, in order to breathe new life into a scene that is in dire need of funding and brilliant creativity.

Thailand has been sending films to the Academy Awards since 1984. The selection has ranged from highly regarded social-problem dramas to independent art films and others that were sponsored by the government via the Culture Ministry.

No Thai film has ever landed an Oscar nomination, but it’s generally agreed among ministry officials that an annual submission from Thailand, even without the chance of winning anything, stands Thai filmmakers in good stead. This is good for Thailand’s international profile, they seem to believe.

What remains at issue is state funding. Last year there was so much fuss about the way a special fund for Thai film production was allocated by ministry officials – and not all the money ended up in the pockets of filmmakers who needed it.

Out of last year’s fund of Bt200 million to support film production, the subcommittee allocated Bt160 million for feature films, Bt10 million for shorts, documentaries, experimental and non-current films, Bt10 million for series and television dramas, Bt10 million for games and Bt10 million for animation. 

The Culture Ministry reassured filmmakers that the allocation would be administered justly and fairly. But many independent filmmakers were unhappy with the fact that up to Bt100 million was allocated for one high-profile film while films that won international awards had received little or no support from the government. 

It remains uncertain whether there will be another special film fund.

“Kon Khon”, which was partially funded by the government’s Thai Khem Kang (Strong Thailand) initiative, tells the story of duelling khon (masked dance) troupes that staged competing performances of the Ramakien, Thailand’s version of India’s classic Ramayana, in the 1960s. Love triangles and betrayals are thrown in to add drama to the story and set up a religious message about karma.

With the endorsement of the Culture Ministry, the Federation of National Film Associations of Thailand selected “Kon Khon” for submission to the Academy Awards, saying the movie is “unique to Thailand and promotes the Kingdom’s arts and culture”.

Some critics insist that this film is not good enough to represent Thailand, and say that Oscar-winning films don’t necessarily need to be representative of national identity or age-old culture.

Directed by actor-turned-filmmaker and People’s Alliance for Democracy activist Saranyoo Wongkrachang, the film was a flop at the box office, opening in a wide release over the weekend of August 25-28 and earning less than Bt8 million as of September 18, according to Box Office Mojo. 

So far, none of Thailand’s selections for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film have ever made the shortlist of nominees, not even last year’s selection of the Cannes-winning “Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives” by Apichatpong Weerasethapong.

It’s hoped that proper state funding of quality Thai film production will help improve the outlook of the Thai movie industry.