Festival finale

The 7th World Film Festival of Bangkok wrapped yesterday by the colorful celebrity lookalike contest with 10 contestants. This year’s winner was Tawil Nuanchan, 36, who imitated a most popular Thai folk song singer Chaiya Mitrchai.

The curtain came down on the 7th World Film Festival of Bangkok yesterday to upbeat vibes of "Rocksteady: the Roots of Reggae" tapping into the booming local popularity of Jamaica's cult musical genre. Hundreds of Thai and foreign festivalgoers enjoyed singing along and dancing to the film during its outdoor screening at Discovery Plaza, Siam Discovery Centre.

The festival wrapped up with a colourful lookalike contest. Beating out nine other contestants was Tawil Nuanchan, 36, who imitated  popular  folk singer Chaiya Mitrchai to win this year's award. The first runnerup place went to Sontaya Semtappra, 37, who looks like British actor Mr Bean. Sirinart Kotchasenee, 17, who takes after 21yearold  TV  actress Patarasaya "Peak" Krousuwansiri, was chosen the second runnerup.

Nattaporn Jenchit, a transgender woman who looks like Petchara Chaowaratwidely, was widely expected to be the winner but had to be content with the third runnerup place.

'Many soldout'

"We thank our audience and partners who have been supporting us for years," said festival director Kriengsak "Victor" Silakong. "The seventh edition, too, got good feedback. Many films were sold out. Among them were opening film 'Mundane History' by Anocha Suwichakornpong, awardwinner Tasi Mingliang's 'Face' and 'Some Where Between Here and Now' by Belgian Olivier Boonjing. Experimental Thai films such as 'A Letter to Uncle Boonmee' by Apichatpong Weerasethapul and 'Man and Gravity: Plateau' by Jakrawal Nilthamrong also won audiences' hearts." 

Victor said the increased number of viewers proved that "our festival, which focuses on alternative and experimental films, gained more interest from audiences here".

Aiming to host the film festival for the sake of the public, the Nation Group continued with tradition by organising the festival's closing ceremony in open air for free. While the programmes featured both classic and contemporary films, the exciting Thaistyle "nang klang plang" (openair screening) played a big role.

After launching the idea last year on the closing night in front of Siam Paragon with "Shine A Light", the hit musical documentary on the Rolling Stones by American director Martin Scorsese, festivalgoers at this year's ceremony went home with fun.

"See you again with some more exciting times at my annual wedding!" Victor said with big smile.