As Thailand strives to make a bigger mark in the global movie and entertainment market, their answer to the iconic Cannes festival, the Bangkok Film Festival, was met with rave reviews after it wrapped in November.
The 16th World Film Festival of Bangkok closed their 11-day festival event, which showcased 100 films from 35 countries, with the presentation of four Lotus Awards alongside screenings of “Grand Tour” and “The Room Next Door“.
The festival was organised by Nation Group with support from the National Soft Power Strategic Committee (THACCA), the Culture Ministry’s Department of Cultural Promotion, SF Corp, and the Safe and Creative Media Development Fund, with hotel and airline partners as well.
“This year’s Film Festival of Bangkok met all our expectations and goals. We faced challenges and limitations but managed to overcome them thanks to collaborative efforts. The festival next year will be even better,” festival director Drasaron Kovitvanitcha said, according to Nation Thailand.
The prestigious Lotus Awards were presented in four categories and were judged by an international panel made up of Yeo Siew Hua, Freddy Olsson, Kim Young-Woo, Anke Leweke, and Chananan Chotirungroj.
The results are as follows:
- Jury Prize: “Viet and Nam”, directed by Nguyen Thi Xuan Trang, and “Pepe” by Nelson Carlos De los Santos Arias
- Best Director: Matthew Rankin for “Universal Language”
- Best Film: “Desert of Namibia” directed by Yôko Yamanaka
- Special Mention: “MA Cry of Silence” directed by The Maw Naing
This year’s festival received support from support from EVA Air, Thai Lion Air, China Southern Airlines, and Thai Airways International, the French Embassy in Thailand, Mercure Hotel Bangkok Makkasan, Skyview Hotel Bangkok, the Japan Foundation Bangkok, Siam Winery, and 852 Films.
