The kick-off Pattaya Film Festival is slated for June 15-19, showcasing a collection of over 20 film productions from across the globe, inclusive of both modern and traditional movies as well as a dedicated children’s segment.
The SF Cinema Marina, Mahatai Pattaya Convention Center, and the outdoor screen on North Pattaya beach will present all movies without any cost.
Pattaya City and the Designated Areas for Sustainable Tourism Administration (Dasta) are working hand in hand with the Thai Film Archive and the Ministry of Culture to make this event possible.
The premiere Pattaya Film Festival is an integral part of a long-standing initiative to establish Pattaya as a ‘City of Film’ in line with UNESECO’s Creative Cities Network.
The festival aspires to heighten the cultural dynamism of the seaside city and expose diverse movies to viewers. The festival’s additional objective is to publicize Pattaya of Chonburi province as an ideal location for film shoots.
The festival includes the following activities: The International Competition, in which seven brand-new films, unseen in Thailand before, compete for a US$5,000 (172,900 baht) award.
Cinema Multiverse: This section presents a mix of artistic and traditional films, previously screened in Bangkok but never in Pattaya.
Notable films include Return to Seoul, Aftersun, Blue Again, and age-old films like Casablanca, The Wizard of Oz, and Superman.
Pattaya Movie on the Beach: A curated list of Thai and international films to commemorate Pride Month, as well as movies that feature Pattaya as a location.
The spot is North Pattaya beach, near the Dusit Thani Hotel. Highlighted movies include The Last Song, a renowned Thai movie about cabaret performers, and Sai Lor Fah, a Thai action film shot in Pattaya.
School Cinema: A series of kid-friendly movies screened at the Mahatai Convention Center, supplemented with post-show discussions to highlight the importance of film as an educational tool for school teachers.
Documentary Pitch, a workshop featuring eight Thai projects, mentored by professional documentary filmmakers Alice Agneskirchner from Germany, Jewel Maranan from the Philippines, and Stefano Centini from Italy and Taiwan.
Two awards worth 200,000 and 100,000 baht will be awarded to two exceptional projects.
Shin Su-won, a prominent Korean director, will be present in Pattaya to conduct a masterclass about her directorial journey.
Shin’s work has gained recognition, and her movies have been selected by prestigious film festivals like Cannes and Busan. As a part of the masterclass, Passenger#3 and Hommage, two of her films, will be screened.
The festival will additionally host a series of discussions with global film specialists.
For further information and the comprehensive event schedule, check out Pattaya Film Festival Facebook page.
