MOVIE buffs will be delighted to hear that of after a 16-year hiatus the Bangkok International Film Festival 2025 (BKKIFF 2025) is kicking off on Saturday Sep. 27 and run till Oct. 15 as “Asia’s platform for contemporary film and culture” with over 200 movies from 40 countries being screened, Naewna newspaper said.
Mr. Saran Kovitvanitcha, director of BKKIFF 2025, said, “The core of BKKIFF 2025 is to create a platform where films are not just entertainment, but also a force for broadening perspectives, generating social dialogue and leading to tangible change in culture, economy and international cooperation.
“We want BKKIFF to be a highly anticipated festival and a landmark in Asian cinema.”
The ultimate goal is to elevate the standards to the same level as the world’s leading international film festivals.
Being shown across Bangkok during this festival are feature films, documentaries, animations and carefully curated competitions.
The festival opens with “Death Whisperer 3 (2025)”, a Thai horror movie, and closes with “Kokuho (2025)” the Japanese film of the year acclaimed by critics worldwide as “the best Japanese film in years.”
Other interesting movies including ” “No Other Choice,” a South Korean black comedy thriller nominated for the Venice Film Festival’s Golden Lion; “A Pale View of Hills,” the debut novel by Kazuo Ishiguro and directed by Kei Ishikawa, which tells is the story of Etsuko, a middle-aged Japanese woman living alone in England, and opens with discussion between Etsuko and her younger daughter, Niki, about the recent suicide of Etsuko’s older daughter, Keiko; and “Sound of Falling” which depicts the lives of four girls from four different eras, connected by a farm. It was Germany’s Oscar nominee and won the Jury Prize at Cannes 2025.
The aim is to make BKKIFF 2025 the starting point for building connections that would transform the film industry into an economic driver, linking it with tourism, hotels, restaurants, and cultural services, helping with cash circulation and enhancing Thailand’s positive image.
Meanwhile, the arrival of directors, actors and filmmakers from around the world will lead to exchange of knowledge, international collaboration, new opportunities for filmmaking and co-financing in future.
BKKIFF 2025 will also feature activities centred around the “heart of the film industry,” including:
– The Film Market, a meeting place for over 50 filmmakers, distributors and investors to explore regional and global business opportunities;
– Seminars and masterclasses by leading directors, actors and experts who share their knowledge and experiences directly with Thai filmmakers;
– The Short Film Competition, providing a platform for young people to showcase their creativity and contemporary ideas.
There are numerous prizes as follows:
Main Competition
A competitive section for international films. Judging will be carried out by a panel of distinguished international film experts. Awards include the Bangkok Grand Prix (US$15,000), Special Jury Prize (US$7,500) and Best Director (US$5,000).
New Voices
This competitive section screens Asian films by first-, second-, or third-time directors, with the winner receiving the New Voice Award (US$5,000).
Thai Panorama
This section features 12 Thai films, with the winner receiving the Thai Panorama Audience Award (US$5,000)
Asian Short Films Competition
This section features 15 short films from Asian filmmakers. Judging will be carried out by a panel of international experts, the Asian Film Grand Prix award is (US$5,000) and Short Film Audience Award (US$2,000).
CAPTIONS:
Top: People watching a movie by Krists Luhaers on Unsplash
Front Page: A movie hall. Photo by Denise Jans on Unsplash
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