Phuket Film Festival takes shape
The very beginnings of Bollywood - a scene from 'Raya Harishchandra' the making of which is examined in the festival's opening movie, 'Harishchandrachi Factory'.
With six weeks to go, the 2010 Phuket Film Festival is taking shape nicely. At least 10 feature films are now confirmed for the festival, which kicks off on June 4 at the SFX Coliseum in Central Festival with a screening of India’s official entry in the 2009 Oscars, Harishchandrachi Factory.
Director/writer/producer Paresh Mokashi will be in attendance. The film is a docu-drama about the making of India’s first silent feature film, Raja Harishchandra, in 1913.
Also to be screened on the same night is Per Sofia, an Italian drama following the emotional and intellectual journey of a young musician, inspired by living next door to the house occupied 70 years earlier by Sophia, a young pianist.
The following day sees the midday screening of the Vietnamese movie Dong Dot, whose director will be at the screening, and the official Festival opening party at the Royal Phuket Marina. There will also be a screening, at 2pm of The Soi Dog Movie, with all proceeds going to the animal welfare charity.
June 6 sees the screening of three films: a Thai classic movie; the Discovery Channel documentary Anatomy of a Recovery, which covers the aftermath of the 2004 Asian Tsunami; and a classic French film. Takings at the screening of Anatomy of a Recovery will go to the Chumchonthai Foundation, to support its work with the Sea Gypsy people of Phuket. The last showing of the day, at 9pm, will be the Indian action comedy Chandni Chowk to China, parts of which were shot in Bangkok and Ratchaburi.
The first in a series of three Meet The Directors sessions – all at Cape Yamu – will take place on June 7. In the hot seat will be Darnell Martin, director and writer of Cadillac Records, which charts the rise of the Chess record label. In town, the Australian musical comedy Bran Nue Dae will be screened at 9pm.
The real Harvey Milk (right) - subject of the Gus Van Sant movie 'Milk' - campaigning for votes in 1976 in San Francisco.
The following day will see the second of the Directors series, featuring Gus Van Sant and a screening of Milk, the Sean Penn docu-drama about Harvey Milk, the first openly gay person elected to political office in California and later assassinated. A French film, as yet unnamed, will be shown on the same night at the SFX complex.
There appears to be no programme yet for June 8, but the evening of June 9 will be a showcase for “alternative lifestyle” – gay – movies.
June 11 sees the Thailand premiere of the Thai-American co-production, Bitter/Sweet, a love story shot among the coffee plantations of Krabi. American actor Kip Pardue and Thailand’s Mamee Nakprasitte play the lovers. Worth looking out for parts played by James Brolin and even a brief cameo by Tata Young. For those with a yen to hang out with Thai stars, there will be a reception afterwards at the Vijitt Resort.
On June 12, have yet to be announced but will include a Meet the Directors session with a Thai movie director and a closing movie, “maybe the Thai movie Phuket“, the organisers say. Phuket is a love story between a young Korean actress and a Thai limousine driver, in Korean and Thai language, naturally.
The closing day, June 13, will see the world premiere of Thai director Yuthlert Sippapak’s Friday Killer, the first movie in his promised Killers Trilogy. Yuthlert’s credits include Killer Tattoo (2001), February (2003), and Buppah Rahtree (2003) which is one of Thailand’s highest grossing films, popular for its eccentric storyline and blend of horror with comedy.
Killer Friday stars comedian Suthep Pho-ngam. He, the director and members of the cast are expected to attend a reception after the movie.
