Bangkok International Film Festival
Encyclopedia
The Bangkok International Film Festival (BKKIFF) is an international film festival
held annually in Bangkok
, Thailand
, since 2003. In addition to film screenings, seminars, gala events and the Golden Kinnaree Awards.
, which was first held in October 2003.
For management of the Bangkok International Film Festival, the TAT awarded a contract to a Los Angeles, California
firm, Festival Management, which programmed the festival from 2003 to 2006.
Such celebrities as Catherine Deneuve
, Jeremy Irons
, Michael Douglas
, Jean-Claude Van Damme
, Steven Seagal
, Bai Ling
, Christopher Lee
, Oliver Stone
, Terry Gilliam
and Joel Schumacher
were flown to Bangkok to attend the festivals, and were present for such events as red carpet
-festooned opening ceremonies, cocktail parties and awards banquets.
to 60 million baht. As a result of the cuts, the TAT broke its management contract with Festival Management, and then postponed the 2007 edition of the festival
from January to July. With a focus on Asian cinema
the resulting festival was a lower-key affair than in previous years, though it did host a visit by Indian actress Hema Malini
, who was the subject of a retrospective program.
Following the 2007 event, management of the festival was transferred from the TAT to the Department of Export Promotion.
In December 2007, the United States Department of Justice
arrested Gerald and Patricia Green, the owners of Festival Management. In an affidavit by a Federal Bureau of Investigation
agent, the Greens were accused of violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act
for their alleged payment of US$1.7 million in bribes to a person the affidavit identified as the governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand.
In Thailand, Juthamas Siriwan, who served as TAT governor from 2002 to 2006, denied any wrongdoing, but in the days before the December 23, 2007 general election
, she resigned from the For the Motherland
party, of which she served as deputy leader.
As an appointed Governor of the TAT by Thaksin Shinawatra's Thai Rak Thai Government, the former governor is now indicted in USA for taking bribes in relation to the film festival.
In late February 2008 the website of the TAT announced that the 2008 Bangkok International Film Festival would be held in July. It was then postponed and held in September 2008, with TAT as the main sponsor but with the Federation of National Film Associations and the Thai Film Directors Association as the organizers.
countries: Brunei
, Cambodia
, Indonesia
, Laos
, Malaysia, Myanmar
, the Philippines
, Singapore
, Thailand
and Vietnam
. The films in this competition are judged by members of FIPRESCI
, the International Federation of Film Critics, and the winning film receives the Golden Kinaree for Best ASEAN Film.
made and released over the past 12 months, as well as premieres of new films made in Thailand.
, Berlin Film Festival, Venice Film Festival
and Toronto International Film Festival
.
Film festival
A film festival is an organised, extended presentation of films in one or more movie theaters or screening venues, usually in a single locality. More and more often film festivals show part of their films to the public by adding outdoor movie screenings...
held annually in Bangkok
Bangkok
Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...
, Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
, since 2003. In addition to film screenings, seminars, gala events and the Golden Kinnaree Awards.
First years
The Bangkok International Film Festival was first held in 2003, and was organized by Nation Multimedia Group in cooperation with the Tourism Authority of Thailand, or TAT. Prior to 2003, the Nation Group had organized the Bangkok Film Festival (note, no "international" in the title), first held in 1998. After the 2003 event, the Nation Group and the TAT split. The TAT continued with the Bangkok International Film Festival from 2004, while Nation Multimedia founded the World Film Festival of BangkokWorld Film Festival of Bangkok
The World Film Festival of Bangkok is an annual international film festival held between October & November in Bangkok, Thailand.The 8th Annual World Film Festival of Bangkok will be held between 5 - 14 November, 2010.-History:...
, which was first held in October 2003.
For management of the Bangkok International Film Festival, the TAT awarded a contract to a Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
firm, Festival Management, which programmed the festival from 2003 to 2006.
Such celebrities as Catherine Deneuve
Catherine Deneuve
Catherine Deneuve is a French actress. She gained recognition for her portrayal of aloof and mysterious beauties in films such as Repulsion and Belle de jour . Deneuve was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress in 1993 for her performance in Indochine; she also won César Awards for that...
, Jeremy Irons
Jeremy Irons
Jeremy John Irons is an English actor. After receiving classical training at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, Irons began his acting career on stage in 1969, and has since appeared in many London theatre productions including The Winter's Tale, Macbeth, Much Ado About Nothing, The Taming of the...
, Michael Douglas
Michael Douglas
Michael Kirk Douglas is an American actor and producer, primarily in movies and television. He has won three Golden Globes and two Academy Awards; first as producer of 1975's Best Picture, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, and as Best Actor in 1987 for his role in Wall Street. Douglas received the...
, Jean-Claude Van Damme
Jean-Claude Van Damme
Jean-Claude Camille François Van Varenberg , professionally known as Jean-Claude Van Damme, is a Belgian martial artist and actor, best known for his martial arts action films, the most successful of which include Bloodsport , Kickboxer , Double Impact , Universal Soldier , Hard Target , Timecop ,...
, Steven Seagal
Steven Seagal
Steven Frederic Seagal is an American action film star, producer, writer, martial artist, guitarist and reserve deputy sheriff. A 7th-dan black belt in Aikido, Seagal began his adult life as an Aikido instructor in Japan...
, Bai Ling
Bai Ling
Bai Ling is a Chinese actress known for her work in films such as The Crow, Red Corner and Wild Wild West, and in TV series such as Entourage and Lost. In 2011 she appeared in the fifth season of the VH1 reality television series Celebrity Rehab with Dr...
, Christopher Lee
Christopher Lee
Sir Christopher Frank Carandini Lee, CBE, CStJ is an English actor and musician. Lee initially portrayed villains and became famous for his role as Count Dracula in a string of Hammer Horror films...
, Oliver Stone
Oliver Stone
William Oliver Stone is an American film director, producer and screenwriter. Stone became well known in the late 1980s and the early 1990s for directing a series of films about the Vietnam War, for which he had previously participated as an infantry soldier. His work frequently focuses on...
, Terry Gilliam
Terry Gilliam
Terrence Vance "Terry" Gilliam is an American-born British screenwriter, film director, animator, actor and member of the Monty Python comedy troupe. Gilliam is also known for directing several films, including Brazil , The Adventures of Baron Munchausen , The Fisher King , and 12 Monkeys...
and Joel Schumacher
Joel Schumacher
Joel T. Schumacher is an American film director, screenwriter and producer.-Early life:Schumacher was born in New York City, the son of Marian and Francis Schumacher. His mother was a Swedish Jew, and his father was a Baptist from Knoxville, Tennessee, who died when Joel was four years old...
were flown to Bangkok to attend the festivals, and were present for such events as red carpet
Red carpet
A red carpet is traditionally used to mark the route taken by heads of state on ceremonial and formal occasions, and has in recent decades been extended to use by VIPs and celebrities at formal events.- History :...
-festooned opening ceremonies, cocktail parties and awards banquets.
Post-coup festival, bribery scandal
After the 2006 Thai coup d'état, the government installed by the military-run Council for National Security reduced the budget for the film festival by two thirds from 180 million bahtThai baht
The baht is the currency of Thailand. It is subdivided into 100 satang . The issuance of currency is the responsibility of the Bank of Thailand.-History:The baht, like the pound, originated from a traditional unit of mass...
to 60 million baht. As a result of the cuts, the TAT broke its management contract with Festival Management, and then postponed the 2007 edition of the festival
2007 Bangkok International Film Festival
The 2007 Bangkok International Film Festival was held from July 19 to July 29, 2007, at SF Group's SF World Cinema at CentralWorld. The fifth consecutive year for the festival, organizers planned a program of about 100 films, with an emphasis on Asian cinema....
from January to July. With a focus on Asian cinema
Asian cinema
Asian cinema refers to the film industries and films produced in the continent of Asia, and is also sometimes known as Eastern cinema. More commonly however, it is used to refer to the cinema of Eastern, Southeastern and Southern Asia. West Asian cinema is sometimes classified as part of Middle...
the resulting festival was a lower-key affair than in previous years, though it did host a visit by Indian actress Hema Malini
Hema Malini
Hema Malini is an Indian actress, director and producer, as well as a Bharatanatyam dancer-choreographer. Making her acting debut in Sapno Ka Saudagar , she went on to appear in numerous Bollywood films, most notably those with actor and future-husband Dharmendra. She was initially promoted as...
, who was the subject of a retrospective program.
Following the 2007 event, management of the festival was transferred from the TAT to the Department of Export Promotion.
In December 2007, the United States Department of Justice
United States Department of Justice
The United States Department of Justice , is the United States federal executive department responsible for the enforcement of the law and administration of justice, equivalent to the justice or interior ministries of other countries.The Department is led by the Attorney General, who is nominated...
arrested Gerald and Patricia Green, the owners of Festival Management. In an affidavit by a Federal Bureau of Investigation
Federal Bureau of Investigation
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is an agency of the United States Department of Justice that serves as both a federal criminal investigative body and an internal intelligence agency . The FBI has investigative jurisdiction over violations of more than 200 categories of federal crime...
agent, the Greens were accused of violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act
Foreign Corrupt Practices Act
The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977 is a United States federal law known primarily for two of its main provisions, one that addresses accounting transparency requirements under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and another concerning bribery of foreign officials.- Provisions and scope...
for their alleged payment of US$1.7 million in bribes to a person the affidavit identified as the governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand.
In Thailand, Juthamas Siriwan, who served as TAT governor from 2002 to 2006, denied any wrongdoing, but in the days before the December 23, 2007 general election
Thai general election, 2007
The 2007 Thai general elections were held on 23 December. This was the first legislative election after the Council for National Security, a military junta, had overthrown Thailand's elected government and abrogated the constitution on September 19, 2006. The junta had canceled general elections...
, she resigned from the For the Motherland
For the Motherland
Motherland Party was a Thai political party founded on September 11, 2007, by more than 200 politicians including defectors from the Thai Rak Thai Party . Before the general election 2011, it merged with the National Development Party to form the Chart Pattana Puea Pandin Party. The Puea Pandin...
party, of which she served as deputy leader.
As an appointed Governor of the TAT by Thaksin Shinawatra's Thai Rak Thai Government, the former governor is now indicted in USA for taking bribes in relation to the film festival.
In late February 2008 the website of the TAT announced that the 2008 Bangkok International Film Festival would be held in July. It was then postponed and held in September 2008, with TAT as the main sponsor but with the Federation of National Film Associations and the Thai Film Directors Association as the organizers.
International competition
Up to a total of 12 international feature films can be selected for competition, judged by an international jury. Awards are presented for Best International Film, Best International Director, Best International Actor and Best International Actress.ASEAN competition
Seeks to present the best films from the past year from ASEANAssociation of Southeast Asian Nations
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations, commonly abbreviated ASEAN rarely ), is a geo-political and economic organization of ten countries located in Southeast Asia, which was formed on 8 August 1967 by Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. Since then, membership has...
countries: Brunei
Brunei
Brunei , officially the State of Brunei Darussalam or the Nation of Brunei, the Abode of Peace , is a sovereign state located on the north coast of the island of Borneo, in Southeast Asia...
, Cambodia
Cambodia
Cambodia , officially known as the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia...
, Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
, Laos
Laos
Laos Lao: ສາທາລະນະລັດ ປະຊາທິປະໄຕ ປະຊາຊົນລາວ Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao, officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic, is a landlocked country in Southeast Asia, bordered by Burma and China to the northwest, Vietnam to the east, Cambodia to the south and Thailand to the west...
, Malaysia, Myanmar
Myanmar
Burma , officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar , is a country in Southeast Asia. Burma is bordered by China on the northeast, Laos on the east, Thailand on the southeast, Bangladesh on the west, India on the northwest, the Bay of Bengal to the southwest, and the Andaman Sea on the south....
, the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
, Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
, Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
and Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
. The films in this competition are judged by members of FIPRESCI
FIPRESCI
The International Federation of Film Critics is an association of national organizations of professional film critics and film journalists from around the world for "the promotion and development of film culture and for the safeguarding of professional interests." It was founded in June 1930 in...
, the International Federation of Film Critics, and the winning film receives the Golden Kinaree for Best ASEAN Film.
Reel World
A program of recent feature-length documentaries, collected from countries all around the world. A Golden Kinnaree is awarded for Best International Feature Documentary.New Voices
A selection of 10 to 15 international features from first- or second-time feature directors. The winning film will be presented with the award for Best New Director.Asian Short Films
This competition includes live action, animation and documentary short films from all over Asia. There is an award presented for Best Asian Short Film.Thai Panorama
A collection of what the organizers determine as the most distinctive Thai filmsCinema of Thailand
The cinema of Thailand dates back to the early days of filmmaking, when King Chulalongkorn's 1897 visit to Bern, Switzerland was recorded by Francois-Henri Lavancy-Clarke. The film was then brought to Bangkok, where it was exhibited...
made and released over the past 12 months, as well as premieres of new films made in Thailand.
Tributes and retrospectives
Each year, the festival offers a glimpse to the life and career of its honored film personalities, including directors, actors and technicians, through a selection of what the organizers judge to be their finest cinematic moments.Special presentations
This program consists of gala premieres and special screenings of new releases as well as restored copies of old classics, frequently accompanied by special festive activities such as concerts, outdoor screenings and appearances by stars, directors and crew members of the old films.Windows on the World
A celebration of what the organizers determine to be the best of the world cinema, showcasing about 80 films from countries around the world, reflecting the international language of cinema. The selection includes critically acclaimed films from other leading festivals such as the Cannes Film FestivalCannes Film Festival
The Cannes International Film Festival , is an annual film festival held in Cannes, France, which previews new films of all genres including documentaries from around the world. Founded in 1946, it is among the world's most prestigious and publicized film festivals...
, Berlin Film Festival, Venice Film Festival
Venice Film Festival
The Venice International Film Festival is the oldest international film festival in the world. Founded by Count Giuseppe Volpi in 1932 as the "Esposizione Internazionale d'Arte Cinematografica", the festival has since taken place every year in late August or early September on the island of the...
and Toronto International Film Festival
Toronto International Film Festival
The Toronto International Film Festival is a publicly-attended film festival held each September in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. In 2010, 339 films from 59 countries were screened at 32 screens in downtown Toronto venues...
.
Golden Kinnaree Awards
The annual Awards Gala presents The Golden Kinnaree Awards to the winning films and filmmakers. Awards are presented in the following categories:Competitive awards
- Best Film
- Best Director
- Best Actor
- Best Actress
- Best Cinematographer
- Best ASEAN Film
- Best Asian Short Film
- Best Feature Documentary
- New Voices Award (Best New Director)
- The Jameson Thai People’s Choice Award
Achievement Awards
- Lifetime Achievement Award(s)
- Career Achievement Award(s)
- Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Promotion of Asian Cinema
- Crystal Lens Award (Career Achievement in Cinematography)
- Asian Eyes Award (Excellence in Asian Cinematography)
- Thai Box Office Award (highest grossing Thai film in the previous year)
Particular years
- 2003 Bangkok International Film Festival2003 Bangkok International Film FestivalThe 2003 Bangkok International Film Festival was held from January 10 to 21, 2003 in Bangkok, Thailand.-Festival program:A Bangkok International Film Festival was held in 2002, organized by Nation Multimedia Group in cooperation with the Tourism Authority of Thailand...
- 2004 Bangkok International Film Festival2004 Bangkok International Film FestivalThe 2004 Bangkok International Film Festival started on January 22 and ran until February 2. The Golden Kinnaree Awards were announced on January 31.-Golden Kinnaree International Competition:* Best Film: The Barbarian Invasions...
- 2005 Bangkok International Film Festival2005 Bangkok International Film FestivalThe 2005 Bangkok International Film Festival started on January 13 and ran until January 24. The Golden Kinnaree Awards were announced on January 21.- Golden Kinnaree International Competition :...
- 2006 Bangkok International Film Festival2006 Bangkok International Film FestivalThe 2006 Bangkok International Film Festival was held from February 17 to February 27. The festival's events were held in the newly opened Siam Paragon, the first time all the festival's screenings, sidebar events, activities and film market were gathered under one roof.The festival opened with the...
- 2007 Bangkok International Film Festival2007 Bangkok International Film FestivalThe 2007 Bangkok International Film Festival was held from July 19 to July 29, 2007, at SF Group's SF World Cinema at CentralWorld. The fifth consecutive year for the festival, organizers planned a program of about 100 films, with an emphasis on Asian cinema....
See also
- Cinema of ThailandCinema of ThailandThe cinema of Thailand dates back to the early days of filmmaking, when King Chulalongkorn's 1897 visit to Bern, Switzerland was recorded by Francois-Henri Lavancy-Clarke. The film was then brought to Bangkok, where it was exhibited...
- List of cinemas in Thailand
- Thai Short Film and Video FestivalThai Short Film and Video FestivalThe Thai Short Film and Video Festival is an annual film festival held in Bangkok, Thailand, devoted to short film, student film, animation, experimental film and documentary films.Established in 1997, it is organised by the Thai Film Foundation....
- World Film Festival of BangkokWorld Film Festival of BangkokThe World Film Festival of Bangkok is an annual international film festival held between October & November in Bangkok, Thailand.The 8th Annual World Film Festival of Bangkok will be held between 5 - 14 November, 2010.-History:...