Films at the Fringe

"Love Conquers All" is an acclaimed drama by Malasia director Tan Chui.

Innovative performing art is the signature of the Bangkok Fringe Festival, but it also features cutting-edge independent films. Hosted by Patravadi Theatre, dozens of acclaimed short films and digital features will be highlighted in "See the SEA". Curated by Chalida Euabumrungjit of the Thai Film Foundation, the programme introduces interesting works by next-wave film-makers from Southeast Asia and Taiwan.

Screening tomorrow and Sunday and on February 16 and 17, the films offer insights on social and political issues as well as the art of film-making itself. Weekend talked with Chalida about the films.

Why are films part of the Fringe Festival?

Since last year, the Thai Film Foundation has collaborated with Patravadi Theatre in screening Thai short films and independent films in Studio 9 every Friday throughout the year. With Patravadi, we have the mutual understanding that we need an active art space for up-and-coming artists to express their talent and for audiences to discover. This includes film-makers and visual artists, as well as performing artists.

What was the criteria for your selection at the Fringe Festival?

The programme consists of short films and digital features from up-and-coming film-makers from Southeast Asia. For the short films, "S-Express" is the programme in which we aim to promote young talent. You can see the future of Southeast Asian cinema from here.

Undeniably, there has been a phenomenal awareness on the international film festival circuit of independent film-makers from Southeast Asia. Names like Apichatpong Weerasethakul, Garin Nugroro and Lav Diaz are no longer strangers. In this programme, I would like to introduce the next wave. They are names that might not be too familiar today, but you will hear more and more of them in the near future.

Do the films have anything in common?

Southeast Asian independent film-makers share the same struggles. They face many challenges - financial difficulties, lack of distribution and censorship. Amir Muhammad makes films that keep on being banned by Malaysian authorities. His "Last Communist" is a good example, like [Apichatpong's] "Syndromes and a Century", of a film that has been banned in its home country. Another Malaysian director, James Lee, is consistent in exploring urban romance.  Tan Pin Pin's "Invisible City" is the second attempt after her "Singapore GaGa" of trying to find a new angle on Singaporism. "Birth of the Seanema", showing on February 16, by Sasithorn Ariyawicha is a rare gem. I am not sure if she is going to make any more films. But the title fits perfectly with the programme.

What are the highlights?

Tan Chui Mui's "Love Conquers All" has won many awards, including Pusan and Rotterdam. Raya Martin's "A Short Film About the Indio Nacional" (which is actually a feature film) won the Fipresci Award at the Hong Kong International Film Festival. Auraeus Solito's "Tuli" won the Netpac Award in Berlin and Uruphong Raksasad's "Stories From the North" won at Jeonju and Taiwan. "Invisible City" will be shown at almost the same time it is also showing in Berlin this year.

What is the aim to include film in this theatre-based event? Are you looking for new target groups?

On one hand, it is a way to broaden the audience but on the other hand, arts have no border. I like theatre and music performance very much and many film audiences are like that, too. Believe it or not, I met Kang Lone, a Korean independent film-maker who worked in a theatre group at the Fringe Festival some years ago. We became friends and worked on film projects together. He will have his feature debut in Korea soon.  So maybe it is not too unusual to screen films at the Fringe Festival after all. 

Anything else you want to say?

Every film screens only once, so please check the timetable carefully if you don't want to miss a thing.

Details:

'See the SEA' short films and digital features will be shown from 1pm tomorrow and Sunday and on February 16 and 17 as part of the Bangkok Fringe Festival at Patravadi Theatre. Admission is Bt100. For more information, see www.patravaditheatre.com or www.thaifilm.com

Programmes:

Tomorrow

1pm, S-Express Indonesia

Harap Tenang Ada Ujian! (Be Quiet, Exam is in Progress!) by Ifa Ifansyah; Kalah atau Menang (Lose or Win) by Donny Prasetyo Utomo; Still Life by Ariani Darmawan & Hosanna Heinrich; Trophy Buffalo by Vanni Jamin

3pm, Love Conquers All

Tan Chui Mui directs this drama, set in Penang, about Ping, a young woman who loses herself in love.

5pm, S-Express Singapore

4 Days 3 Nights by Ming; Blood Ties by Chai Yee Wei; Dream A Rainbow by Ming; The Mole by Victric Thng; Remember Me by Chris Chong Chan Fui; Stranger by Boo Junfeng & Adrian Tan; Sunat by M. Raihan Halim; Invisible City by Tan Pin Pin

Sunday

1pm, S-Express Philippines

ABCD by Roxless; Chicken Soup 2 by RA Rivera; It Feels So Good To Be Alive by Antoinette Jadaone; Line Drawing by Poklong Anading; A Study for the Skies by Raymond Red; Tag Along (Saling Pusa) by Antoinette Jadaone

3pm, Before We Fall in Love Again

Picked as the Best Asean Film at last year's Bangkok International Film Festival, James Lee's drama is about a pair of men who form an uneasy alliance to find a missing woman, whom they both love.

5pm, Stories from the North

Uruphong Raksasad re-edited a series of his short films into a cinematic collage of life in his rural home village.

Phatarawadee Phataranawik

Weekend Magazine

Published on February 1, 2008