Jeremy Colson

BANGKOK ~ More than 80 films from some 30 countries are to be screened at this year’s edition of Bangkok’s World Film Festival (WFF), the longest-running film festival in Thailand.

Scheduled for November 4 to 13, the ninth edition of the festival appears to have a stronger and more balanced selection than last year and should prove popular with cineastes not only from Thailand but also from neighboring countries.

Still under the enthusiastic control of festival director Victor Silakong, WFF9 presents films in five categories: Cine Latino, Cinema Beat, Doc Feast, Short Wave and Asian Contemporary.

Highlights include the documentary, The Cave of Forgotten Dreams, by Werner Herzog.

Other documentaries include an American showcase comprising: Corner Plot, If A Tree Falls: A Story of The Earth Liberation Front, Kids With Cameras, Make Believe, and One Lucky Elephant.

The opening film, They Carried me Home, tells the story of two estranged sisters who find a way to bring the soulless body of their dead mother back home. Three other Thai films that were well received at this year’s Venice Film Festival - Lung Neaw Visits His Neighbours, P-047, and Passing through the Night will also be screened.

As a tribute to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Cannes Film Festival International Critic’s Week, films from the past to the present will also be screened. These include Boy Meets Girl (1994), Walkover (1965), Little Jerusalem (2005) and Las Acacias (2011).

An activity has been organized with the Autism Awareness Association to promote social understanding and raise awareness of the abilities and potential of people with autism though such films as Ocean Heaven, God’s Ear, Kids With Cameras, and For Once In My Life.

Most of the movies will be shown at the Siam Paragon Cineplex , but some will be shown at the Esplanade on Ratchadapisek.

WFF9 closes with Aki Kaurismaki’s Total Balalaika Show , a rare music documentary which will be screened outside at the Crystal Design Centre on Praditmanutham Rd.

For the full program click here: www.worldfilmbkk.com

[The 9th World Film Festival of Bangkok is co-organized by the Office of Contemporary Art and Culture, the Ministry of Culture, The Nation, Major Cineplex Group Plc, Esplanade Cineplex Ratchadapisek, Paragon Cineplex, Crystal Design Center, Nation Broadcasting Corporation, and Mango TV. It is supported by Boonrawd Trading Co., Ltd., Thai Life Insurance Co., Ltd., Tourism Authority of Thailand, Turkish Airlines, Toyota Motor Thailand Co., Ltd., and Rembrandt Hotel & Towers Bangkok with the co-operation of several foreign embassies in Thailand, namely; Embassy of Brazil, Embassy of Chile, Embassy of France, Embassy of Finland, Embassy of Peru, Embassy of Portugal, Embassy of the Republic of Poland, Embassy of Mexico, Embassy of USA, Goethe Institute, and the Taipei Economic & Cultural Office in Thailand. Media supporters include MCOT Public Company Limited, Happening Magazine and Hamburger Magazine.]