The Bangkok Asean Art and Culture Festival (Baaf) is organising two activities for those interested in Myanmar and the Asean film industry at the Bangkok Art and Cultural Centre on Oct 19.
Kriengsak Victor Silakong.
The first programme, running from 10.30am-1pm, features a screening of three short films from Myanmar, offering reflections on previously unknown aspects of culture, art, gender and sexuality issues of Thailand's neighbour.
Like Father, Like Son tells the story of the Myanmar Ramayana theatre group, which is struggling to preserve the centuries-old art. A Million Threads is an award-winning documentary about a competition in which 30 women weave the finest robes for the Shwe Phone Pwint Pagoda. Burmese Butterfly is a rare glimpse into the emerging gay community in this somewhat isolated country where being gay remains subject to social discrimination.
The screening will be followed by a discussion titled "Art, Religion, Sexuality: Seeing Myanmar Through Film" by Amporn Jirattikorn, an anthropologist working on film and media in Myanmar who is currently a lecturer at the Faculty of Social Sciences, Chiang Mai University.
The talk will focus on Myanmar and its emerging medium of expression _ filmmaking.
Later on the same day, three local film experts will be the speakers at a talk on "Trade Liberalisation in the Film Industry and Co-production in the Asean Community" from 2-5pm.
They are Panu Aree from Sahamongkolfilm International, film director/producer/executive Prachya Pinkaew, and Kriengsak Victor Silakong, director of the World Film Festival of Bangkok.
Both talks will be in Thai with English translation and will take place at the auditorium, 5th floor of Bangkok Art and Cultural Centre, Pathumwan intersection. There is no admission fee.
For more information, call 02-214-6638 ext 519.
