What is incredible about Amazing Thailand 9FilmFest, is films  will be shown that were recently made!  Fresh out of the cameras and minds of our creative directors.  In other festivals, it could take a year or longer to prepare for a film.  And it the old days, the entries would be shot on film.  Now, films are shot on digital video and can be edited at home on your laptop computer!

Everyone has a chance to enter and produce, director, act, write and edit their own film.  So much has changed in the world today.  Look at all the technological innovations that we can now use.   Amazing Thailand 9FlimFest supports young filmmakers and creative talents from around the world.  We look forward to an incredible festival on 17 June 2012, in Bangkok, Thailand.

Bear’s wife and the ex continued to see each other.  Bear consulted with his brother saying “ At first I loved her a lot, but now it’s different”.  Bear didn’t want to see his wife contact the ex.  This is where Director Khosrow did a great job showing that there was no real love between Bear and his wife, yet they both felt obligated to stay together cause they were married.  Bear was insecure and was getting anxious.

He confronted his wife “You think I’m stupid, dumb person, you don’t think I know what is going on?  I’ll go out and kill him”.

Tension was building in the film.  The gentle ex husband, the unhappy, but trapped wife and the insecure potentially explosive Bear.  The film was gripping because you didn’t know which way the plot would go.

Without going into the movie’s ending, I feel Khosrow, did a fantastic job engaging the audience and then taking us for an unpredictable finish.  The cast and script were of the quality level you would expect to see in an Academy Award Film.  I’m predicting Bear will be the Iranian Best Foreign Feature film at 2012 Academy Awards.

Another Iranian competition film was The Orange Suit, directed by Dariush Mehrjui.  A Director who came to the first Bangkok Film Festival in 1999.  

The Orange Suit was way out of the box!  Who would make a film about an educated guy, who drops everything to become a streetsweeper?  However, I can relate to the story.  Just as Dariush  did, when he opened the film, shooting himself talking about the filth and nausea of seeing so much garbage piled on the beach.  The protagonist couldn’t stand seeing garbage in the parks and on the street.  People are insane just throwing their litter into public areas.

Dariush made us feel the pain of garbage and disrespectful people.  Mahrjui rejuvenated  us by creating a character who cared and brought passion to sweeping the streets. Orange alludes to the color of the city cleaner’s uniform. An excellent story.  

The cast was terrific, from the other street sweepers to friends and family that embraced the Streetcleaner.  I enjoyed the film’s black humour, and the refreshing spirit of our Streetsweeper who battled all odds and went against the fabric of society.

The 30th Fajr Film Festival was an incredible experience and look forward to many great Iranian films coming out this year!

A romantic comedy that takes place in Thailand during the flood crisis. Rak Aow Yu is about teenagers who meet during the flood at the end of 2554.This movie shows some good aspects based on real story. Overall, Rak Aow Yu is a pretty good romantic comedy with outstanding cast and funny jokes throughout the movie. It also makes the audience think that sometimes problems can be a good thing in our life and make us happier if we change our mind.

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Brian Bennett, B'82, founded a short film festival in 1998 in Bangkok, Thailand, centered around inspiring young talent

February 22, 2012

Brian Bennett, B’82, is regarded as the “godfather” of short films in Bangkok, Thailand.  Film, admittedly, might not be a traditional industry for a business administration graduate, but Bennett has always had an affinity for marching to the beat of a different drum.

He did, however, embark on quite a traditional business career path upon graduation.  In 1982, Bennett accepted a position with IBM where he worked as a Systems Engineer and was quickly groomed for upper-level management.

“I had good years with IBM in the 1980s,” he recalled.  “That was before PCs and the internet.”

Bennett worked in the national accounts division at IBM, and one of his most notable clients was the Federal Reserve Bank.  While at IBM, Bennett travelled to large metropolitan areas like Los Angeles and New York City.  

He took advantage of the more convenient international travel options that these areas had to offer.

“[On the weekends and outside of work], I travelled to whatever [international] location that had a promotional fare at the time,” he said.  “I started in Europe (England and Greece) and then travelled to Turkey.”

He said, “I wanted to learn more through travels and study other cultures of life.”

Bennett’s travels led him to the realization that a 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. career in business was not the life he wanted for himself.  So, in 1986 Bennett left IBM, and set off to travel the world.  

He trekked through the Himalayan Mountains in Nepal, soaked up life in India, but had the most life-changing experience in Ecuador.  “I met a couple who both worked for the Department of Agriculture. They were married, and yet at any moment they had, they would travel,” Bennett recalled.

“They said I should do the same,” he said.  “They recommended going to underdeveloped countries to see unspoiled lifestyles, and they referenced Peru, Thailand, and India.”

After a year of globetrotting, Bennett settled down in Thailand for obvious reasons.  “Good food, good weather, and smiling faces,” he said.  “Also, it’s inexpensive to live there.”

He began producing documentaries on environmental issues that were broadcasted on notable networks like the BBC.  His documentaries won him acclaim and were often shown at film festivals.

“Film Festivals are so interesting, [because] we get to see material that we never see in the theatres or on TV,” Bennett said.  “I wanted to bring that opportunity to Thailand and started a Bangkok Film Festival in 1998.”

The film festival was an immediate success.  “It went very well and caused two other large film festivals to take off-- the Bangkok International Film Festival and World Films in Bangkok Festival,” he said.

Dissuaded by pressure to compete with larger-scale film festivals, he took a step back.  During this reflection, the idea of a short film festival was born.

“Times have changed,” he said.  “[Modern] society is all about ‘short’ attention span events, thanks to Facebook and YouTube.”

Formally known as  Amazing Thailand 9Film Festival, the event is so named for its nine-minute long submission limit.  The festival’s goal is “to inspire greatness in others.”  The festival does not limit submissions to a creative discipline or genre.

The films, however, do have to be nine minutes or less, from opening to closing credits, and require that a signature item appear in the film.  In the festival’s inaugural year, the signature item was the number nine.  This year, it is a heart.

9Film Fest will take place in June this year, and boasts a $20,000 award for the first-place film.  Well-known companies like Ford have signed on as sponsors.

Robins School student, Jason Mathew ’13, is on exchange in Bangkok and is interning with the festival.  Mathew has quickly taken to the atmosphere at 9Film Fest.

“I enjoy the passion and fervor that each team member brings to the table,” Mathew said.  “I have never seen individuals who are so passionate for a cause that resulted in no monetary reward.”

Bennett’s own passion for 9Film Fest has already made an impression on Mathew.  “Seeing what Brian and the rest of the 9Film team do is truly is an inspiration to follow ones’ dreams,” he said.

“Brian is a true testament to the idea that you can do whatever you put your mind to.”

Amazing Thailand 9Film Fest is now open for submissions. More information can be found at www.9filmfest.com or www.facebook.com/9filmfest.

AIS presents Amazing Thailand 9FilmFest invites

filmmakers, student filmmakers and amateurs to

create and before April 23 submit an original

short film that could launch the career of a

new film maker.

Major Cineplex encourages new filmmaking and

Amazing Thailand 9FilmFest is supported by AIS,

Tourism Authority of Thailand, Ford

and Major Cineplex.

A committee will review submissions and choose semi-finalist films.

Creativity is encouraged and the 9 minute films can be of any topic

but must somehow include a "heart", this year's signature item.

These outstanding films will be recognized and be included in the

Amazing Thailand 9FilmFest Contest to be held on 17 June at

Paragon Cineplex.  All films will have the opportunity to win a

share of over 1 million baht in cash and prizes. 

Including 600,000 baht first prize.

Follow AIS presents Amazing Thailand 9FilmFest Contest:

http://www.9filmfest.com

http://www.facebook.com/9FILMFEST 

Submissions are requested as early entries before 23 April 2012

(300 baht entry fee) and regular entry fee (450 baht)

before 7 May 2012. 

Your entry fee will be donated 20% towards Baan Gerda HIV

foundation.

The “ Bangkok’s Amazing 9FilmFest Short Film Contest” is a selection of independent, short and creative films produced by filmmakers from across the globe. The festival / contest is going into its 2nd year.  And now the festival is known as Amazing Thailand 9FilmFest.

This is a carnival where the professional, aspirant and amateur filmmakers are being invited to showcase their skills and talents. It is in fact a golden opportunity for the film producers, who will learn a lot from this and then get their own films screened at the next annual Bangkok Short film festival Contest – Amazing Thailand 9FilmFest.

In order to participate in the 9 minute or less Bangkok film festival, the entry requirement for the films should be 9 mins or less right from the opening to closing credits. And you also need a signature item in the film. It should be noted that the signature item varies each year.  In 2011, the 9SI or 9 Signature Item was number ‘9’ whereas for 2012, the 9SI or signature item symbol is ‘Heart’.

Participating in “AIS presents Amazing Thailand 9FilmFest”  will provide opportunity to those aspirants who are interested in sharing their creativity, passion and story, wanting to get their work recognized worldwide. Brain Bennett, the founder of 9Film Fest says whoever is selected as a finalist in the event will be rewarded with world-wide recognition and cash prizes. He believes in new, innovative and creative short films coming from the resourceful people of Thailand and across the globe.

Whoever wants to participate should be creative and like genres that include documentary, sci-fi, narrative, animation, experimental and comedy. Amazing Thailand 9FilmFest is open to all genres.  If you are a participant this year, and in case you happen to be the winner, then the THB 600,000 cash prize will be yours. Whoever is applying, make sure to submit your early entries before 23 April and regular entries deadline for 2012 will be May 7 and the finalists will be declared by June 09.

This year there will be a horde of exclusive and variety of events hosted in the VIE hotel Bangkok. When you participate in the fest, you can be a part of the multitude of events all through the year. In order to get the updates and details of the fiesta, you can log in to the 9filmfest’s Facebook www.facebook.com/9filmfest account. Follow their instructions and announcements closely and check what will be the 9 signature item and other details. If you check last year’s entry report, you will find that 2011 concluded beyond expectations. Almost 200 entries were submitted and out of 9 finalist films, two came right from abroad (Belgium and Japan).  The Japanese Film Number Man Theory won Best Film at the 2011 Festival.

So, why sit back? Get yourself set for the biggest bang this year.