The festival takes place from October 11-23 at Grand EGV Siam Discovery Centre, Paragon Cineplex and Major Cineplex at CentralWorld.

"This year's edition has many new films fresh from the Cannes, Venice and Toronto film festivals. The festival will open with the Chinese epic 'The Banquet' starring Ziyi Zhang and Daniel Wu," festival director Kriangsak Silakong said yesterday at a press conference at Grand EGV Siam Discovery Centre.

With support from 12 foreign embassies, the festival has many films portraying multicultural issues, ranging from pop culture in Bhutan ("Dragon House") to a gay story from Ireland ("Breakfast from Pluto"), along with films from the Philippines ("The Blossoming of Maximo Oliveros") and India ("My Brother Nikhil").

The festival will present five rare masterpieces by the late Polish director Krzystof Kieslowski in its retrospective programme.

In the tribute programme, there are five films by veteran Italian director Bernado Bertolucci, including a new version of "The Last Emperor".

New York-based Polish artist Rafal Olbinski will exhibit his debut poster show along with rare black-and-white photographs by Kieslowski at Paragon Hall.

Polish Ambassador Bogdan Goralczyk and Argentinian Ambassador Felipe Frydman were at the press conference, along with representatives of the ambassadors of France, Italy, Switzerland, Peru, Spain, Israel, Canada, the Netherlands and Russia. The embassies of India, Iran and Turkey are also supporting the festival.

The festival is co-organised by The Nation, the Tourism Authority of Thailand, Thai Airways International and the Major Cineplex Group. It is sponsored by the British Council (Thailand), Goethe Institut Bangkok, Turkish Airlines, Mahan Air, Indian Airlines, J-BICS Film Company, WPM Film International Company, and Pacific Marketing & Entertainment Group.

Besides retrospective and tribute categories, the festival will feature Asian contemporary films, including "I Don't Want to Sleep Alone", an award-winning work by Taiwanese director Tsai Ming Liang.

There will also be categories for documentaries, world cinema and short films.

As a key platform for young Thai film-makers, the festival will present three feature films, two documentaries, a short film and three short series. The highlight is "Reconciliation Short Films" by 14 Thais, showcasing the search for love and peace in the daily lives of locals, particularly in the troubled three southernmost provinces.

"As part of our tradition of supporting independent Thai film-makers, three Thai feature films - 'Sanctuary Rhapsody', 'Silence Will Speak' and 'Sugarless' - will have their world premieres at the festival," said Kriangsak.

Compared with other Asian festivals in South Korea and Tokyo, the Bangkok event is still a baby, but its reputation for promoting independent films around the globe is increasing its popularity.

"It's a young festival and still struggling, but it's full of beautiful intentions," said Bangkok-based Australian film-maker Titus Leber. "Although it's small, it features wonderful cinema by independent film-makers. The films are carefully selected. It's gaining a reputation."

Phatarawadee Phataranawik

The Nation