Bangkok 2003

Abstract

BANGKOK INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 2003 Last October, festival founder Brian Bennett attempted to mount what should have been the festival's 5th edition but this was not to be due to lack of funds. This year's edition has been taken over by main sponsor and organiser, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), and was simply called the 2003 Bangkok International Film Festival (10-21 January 2003). Interestingly, the presidency of the BKKIFF went to the governor of the cash-rich TAT, Juthamas Siriwan. Patrick de Bokay served as the festival's executive director and Kriengsak "Vic" Silakong, the festival's programme director. The country's number one English daily, The Nation, handled the festival operations. The declared aim of the organisers was to establish their first BKKIFF as a regional and international hub for film buffs as well as for potential film investors and those in the film trade. Its other equally important objective was...