Bangkok International Film Festival 2007

"The Go Master" by Japanese director Tian Zhuangzhuang is screened at Bangkok International Film Festival 2007 at CentralWorld from July 19 to 29.

Bangkok International Film Festival 2007 will be held from July 19 to 29, SF World Cinema, CentralWorld.

More than 100 feature and short films in the categories of drama, comedy, animation and documentary from more than 30 countries will be screened in the annual Bangkok International Film Festival, held by the Tourism Authority of Thailand.

Among the special guests at the festival's opening party are celebrated director Ray Harryhausen and famous Indian actress Hema Malini. The festival will pay tribute to Spanish filmmaker Luis Bunuel by featuring his films "Belle de Jour", "The Diary of A Chambermaid", "The Milky Way", "The Phantom of Liberty", "That Obscure Object of Desire", "Tristana" and the short film "An Andalusian Dog".

In competition for the Golden Kinnaree Award are more than 30 films including "Lost in Beijing" from China, "Travelling with Yoshimoto Nara" from Japan and "Dancing Bells" from Malaysia.

Also on offer are documentaries including "Children of Glory" (Hungary), "Havana: The New Art of Making Ruins" (Germany), "Mystic Ball" (Canada/US) and "This Film Is Not Yet Rated" (US).

Films in "windows of the world" category include "Renaissance" (UK), Shortbus (US), XXY (Argentina) and Belle Toujours (Portugal). The Accliamed French-Iranian animated feature "Persepolis" was scheduled, but was removed from the line-up at the request of the Iranian embassy.   

The festival also features film markets, exhibitions, seminars and workshops.

For more information, call (02) 253 7418 or visit www.bangkokfilm.org.

Don Quixote

The Bangkok City Ballet brings to life this classic ballet based on Cervantes' 17th century novel "Don Quixote", which was adapted into a ballet by Marius Pepita for the Russian tsar in 1869. The ballet will take stage at 5pm on July 15 at Thailand Cultural Centre.

The story centres around the comical Don, a defunct Spanish lord who goes on a wild quest for his fantastical lady love Dulcinea del Toboso with his sidekick Sancho Panza.

In the current presentation, BCB dancers will dance alongside worldrenowned dancers Karl Paquette and Eleonore Guerneau from the Paris Opera National Ballet and Cyrill Chokroun and Yoko Tanaka from the Asami Maki Ballet.

Tickets rage from Bt500 to Bt1,500, and are available from Thaiticketmajor, Fuji Supermarket on Sukhumvit Soi 33/1 and The Bangkok City Ballet.

For more information, call (02) 662 7933 or visit www.bangkokcityballet.com.

Friends of the Arts Performance

Friends of the Arts presents a triplebill performance as part of their annual charity performance series to benefit the exchange of local and international arts among youth in Thailand. The charity event takes stage at 7.30pm on July 7 at Thailand Cultural Centre.

The first act includes excerpts from the ballet "Don Quixote" featuring dancers from the Ballet de Santiago, Chile. Next comes the Thai Choreographers' Showcase, including the works of May Yimsai, Rangsima Boonsinsukh, Sirilak Songklip and many others. The evening concludes with internationally renowned Australian choreographer and director of the Satori Dance Company, Mark Rosolini, together with Thai dancers presenting the satirical Bob Fosse musical "Chicago".

Tickets range from Bt500 to Bt2,500 (including a cocktail; Bt250 for students) and are available from Thaiticketmajor.

For more information call (02) 259 8861 or visit www.friend.of.the.arts.info.