It's showtime in Bangkok!
LEKHA J. SHANKAR
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A peek at what is in store for movie-buffs at the Bangkok International Film Festival.
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The mega 10-day International Film Festival, unfurls in Bangkok (February17-27) with more than 150 films from 60 countries. It is sponsored by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT).
The films include top festival-winners like Lars Von Trier's "Manderlay," Joe Wright's "Pride and Prejudice," George Clooney's "Good Night Good Luck" among others.
One of the important films is the Berlin Festival-winner "Paradise Now" by Palestine Director Hany Abu Assad. This psychological drama of two suicide bombers, which recently won the Golden Globe Award for Best Foreign Film, has been nominated for the Oscars. It was the first Palestinian film to be released in Israel.
Among the noteworthy films in the Asian package are well-known Cambodian Director Rithy Panh's "Burnt Theatre" about the death of art-forms in his country; "Hi Bi Days of Fire," an inspiring tale of a gritty potter-woman from Japan; "Magdalena" from the Phillippines; Doan Minh Phuong's "Bride of Silence," a lushly shot tale from Vietnam; "Gravel Road," the first Tamil film made in Malaysia; and an arresting documentary on the top Directors of Korea, who are making some of the best films in the region today.
Vibrant Indian package
From India comes a vibrant package, including several debut features that were screened at the last Osian and Kerala film festivals. Rahul Dholakia's "Pharzania," a powerful drama about the Hindu-Muslim riots in Gujarat, starring Naseeruddin Shah and Sarika. Kanika Varma's "Dansh," is a psychological thriller about an activist in Mizoram, starring the dynamic Kay Kay Menon and Sonali Kulkarni. Jahar Kanungo's "Nishabd," has the unique theme of a man who can't stand noise. The big films include Deepa Mehta's "Water," Ketan Mehta's "The Rising," as well as commercial films like "Paheli," "Parineeta," and "Ek Ajnabee." The last movie was entirely shot in Bangkok with a well-known Thai directing the action-sequences.
"I chose several mainstream films for their stylistic narrative, artistic cinematography and expressive acting," says Therese Hayes, the programmer of the Indian package, who also selects Indian films for the Palm Springs Festival at Los Angeles. The Thai Panorama section includes 17 films from the top film-companies including some unique documentaries.There will also be special workshops on script-writing and film financing.
The Hollywood stars expected at the festival are Vanessa Redgrave, William Dafoe, Helen Mirren, Christopher Lee and Catherine Deneuve.
The five-member International Jury includes Denis Pregnolato, former V.P. of Spelling Entertainment, one of the largest TV production companies in Los Angeles, British director Charles Dance, and others.
Special guest
A special guest will be Gene Kelly's widow, Patricia Ward Kelly, who will inaugurate the music-dance theme `Dancing to the Lens,' at the Cinematographers Day. And there will be special screenings of Gene Kelly classics, "An American in Paris" and "Singing in the Rain."
The Cinematographers Day has been one of the popular features of this event and its Crystal Lens Award will be presented this year to Anthony Dod Mantle for his pioneering work with the hand-held camera ("Dogville, 28 days Later"). For the first time, an `Asian Perspective Award' will be given to Japanese cinematographer Shoji Ueda, for his work with legendary Director Akira Kurosawa.
The closing film will be "Rent," based on the famed Broadway musical of the same name, by Director Chris Columbus, starring Anthony Rapp and Adam Pascal.
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