Under the theme “Bridging Thainess to International Audience”, the Thai Film Festival in Malaysia 2023 is happening now from 14 – 16 July 2023, with the aim of promoting social and cultural understanding of Thailand among Malaysians.
The Festival was successfully launched yesterday at GSC Mid Valley Megamall, by H.E. Ms. Lada Phumas, Ambassador of Thailand to Malaysia, along with the official partners and sponsors from Malaysia and Thailand. Dignitaries from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture, Malaysian Film Development Board (FINAS), as well as Dip Corps were present to witness the event.
The Royal Thai Embassy has flown in three famous Thai stars who are the casts from “Love Destiny the Movie”, Mr. Paris Intarakomalyasut (Ice) and “Faces of Anne” stars Ms. Praewa Suthamphong (Miusic) and Ms. Jennis Oprasert; to appear and meet fans at the launch.
The Thai Film Festival in Malaysia 2023 will feature five hit films from Thailand, namely
- “Faces of Anne” (psycho thriller)
- “Love Destiny the Movie” (rom-com)
- “Fast and Feel Love” (quirky comedy)
- “Haunted Universities 2nd Semester” (horror)
- “Friend Zone” (rom-com)
The public screening will take place during 14 – 16 July 2023 (three days) at four cinemas in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, and Putrajaya, which are GSC Mid Valley KL, GSC 1 Utama, GSC MyTown and GSC IOI City Mall, Putarajaya, with a total of 21 screenings.
It was also reported by GSC that the tickets from all four selected theaters and 21 screenings were fully redeemed since Saturday, 8 July 2023
In her Opening Address, H.E. Ms. Lada Phumas, Ambassador of Thailand to Malaysia, emphasised that “film is a powerful means, it is the best means to relate stories, to appreciate thinking, way of life, culture, through languages, actions, expressions, also our sense of humour, and not less to mention our sense of thriller”, and believed that the success of the Festival will achieve its objective in strengthening friendship as well as deepening social and cultural bonds between Thailand and Malaysia, and other international friends of Thailand, while opening wider doors for more economic opportunities of future collaboration among film and entertainment industry players.
On to Thailand as a regional hub for film production, Her Excellency reiterated that, “against the backdrop of the pandemic and travel restrictions, the report shows a total of 348 movies were filmed in Thailand in 2022, generating a record of 6.4 billion baht (approximately 188 million USD) in revenue” and added that “the Thai Film Festival in Malaysia 2023 is a fitting way to acknowledge the creativity of Thai directors, producers, script writers, and the talents of Thai actors and actresses whose skills are also internationally recognised.”
The Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony was performed by the Royal Thai Embassy in Kuala Lumpur and its official partners; GSC, Suraya Filem & Distribution, Department of International Trade Promotion, Thailand Authority Tourism, Knowmad Production, and Cinema Online, to commemorate the return of the Thai Film Festival in Malaysia after 4 years since the pandemic.
The launch was then followed by a special screening of “Faces of Anne”, starring Praewa Suthamphong (Miusic) and Jennis Oprasert as Anne.
