BANGKOK INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 2007 ANNOUNCES DATES

Bangkok, February 22, 2007 — The Bangkok International Film Festival 2007 today announced the dates for this year’s event as during July 19-29. The venue will be the new downtown shopping and lifestyle complex of Central World, while films will be shown in the modern SF World Cinema located on the upper levels of the complex. The Bangkok Film Market, which is trade show for film buyers and sellers, will be at nearby Siam Paragon Hall during July 23-25.

Originally scheduled for January 26 - February 5, the festival was postponed to July due to the sudden unavailability of theaters. However, the move to July will allow the city to show off its new shopping center and particularly its cinemas, which many regard as the finest in Asia.

The 2007 version of the festival, held for the 5th consecutive year, will feature approximately 100 films from around the globe. There will be an increase in emphasis on Asian films to respond to their popularity both in Thailand and abroad. Asian movies regularly screen in theaters in major cities and they have generated large followings in certain genres like horror and romantic comedy. Some have even been made into major Hollywood productions. The Bangkok Film Market held during the festival is expected to do brisk business in the acquisition of Asian films for theatrical release overseas, with many projects planning to recoup their investment with screening and DVD sales outside their original base. Negotiations are commencing for a number of celebrities and industry individuals to attend the festival.

The Bangkok International Film Festival will also feature several seminars and workshops aimed at educating the public and introducing new developments in movie making, as well as some retrospect on important pioneers and periods of local cinema. The highlight of the glamour part of the festival is the Kinnaree Award presented to the best film in the festival as selected by a respected panel of international jurors. Two other awards will be the New Voices Award honoring first-time directors and the ASEAN Films Award given to the best film from the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

After fruitful collaboration with an American-based partner in previous years, the 2007 event will be the first ever organized by a core of Thai organizers, which include the Tourism Authority of Thailand, Central World, SF Cinema, and the Association of Thai Film Federations.

A second larger press conference will be held sometime closer to the festival, at which time there will be more information on films and stars confirmed for participation.

For updates, please contact the Bangkok International Film Festival at info@bangkokfilm.org.