A TIFF Programmer Talks SAWASDEE BANGKOK

[The Toronto International Film Festival's south-east Asia programmer Raymond Phathanavirangoon has been giving us a guided tour of his selections for the big festival and today he checks in with some thoughts on Sawasdee Bangkok.]

Hi everyone! After my introduction of Pen-ek Ratanuruang's Nymph, here's another project at TIFF that the same director is involved in: Sawasdee Bangkok. Yes, like Paris je t'aime and New York I Love You, this is another city omnibus. But the big difference is that all the filmmakers here are Thai. They know their own city off by heart, and as such the four shorts here are much more intimate and insightful than the usual 5-minute-and-it's-over clip. Plus, there's a real charm to all the films, which only makes the title Sawasdee Bangkok all the more fitting.

The four filmmakers are some of the biggest names in current Thai cinema. Wisit Sasanatieng of Tears of the Black Tiger and Citizen Dog fame; Aditya Assarat, who took the cinema world by storm with his award-winning Wonderful Town; Kongdej Jaturanrasamee, acclaimed screenwriter and the director of the quirky Midnight, My Love and Handle Me With Care; and the aforementioned Pen-ek. What will surprise people is how the two funniest works in the program are from Aditya and Pen-ek, while the most serious one comes from Kongdej. Talk about role-reversal! And there is a special treat after the credits - I won't spoil it, but it's fun.

And it's not just famous directors who are involved. Stunning model/actress Bongkot Kongmalai, known for her roles in Tom Yum Goong and Bang Rajan; Thai superstar Ananda Everingham (Shutter, Queens of Langkasuka, Me...Myself); Nopachai Jayanama from The Legend of Naresuan 2 and Nymph; and The Art of the Devil 3's Kalorin Supalak Nemayothin are just some of the illustrious talents in this high-profile omnibus.

As mentioned by journalists Kong Rithdee and wisekwai, the project originated from Thai Public Television, and there are 9 shorts in total that will be aired on Thai TV. But all the shorts are over 20 minutes each, so it would be impossible to put them all into a coherent film program. So I worked with the producers and directors to find a way so that four shorts would "flow" together. In the end, everyone is pleasantly surprised at how well they all fit together. This was how this particular program came about, and I'm very pleased that it will now world premiere in Toronto.

Wisit is beginning his shoot of the long-awaited Red Eagle soon, while Aditya is prepping for his second feature High Society, so alas neither could come. But both directors Pen-ek and Kongdej will be at TIFF to greet the audience, so please come by to say hi! I really believe that the audience will enjoy it.

PS. A quick thanks to Soros Sokhum, Wicha Khokapun, Aditya and Pen-ek for all their help.