5th Bangkok Experimental Film Festival

The 5th Bangkok Experimental Film Festival began yesterday.

This year's event, organised by Apichatpong Weerasethakul's Project 304 (project304.org/beff5), has The More Things Change... as its central theme. There will be two programmes commenting on post-Thaksin political instability (Learned Behaviour, 27th March at 8.30pm and 30th March at 2pm; Track Changes, 26th March at 8.30pm and 30th March at 6pm). Both of these programmes will include films from Spoken Silence at the 11th Thai Short Film & Video Festival, including Middle-Earth in Learned Behaviour. Another highlight is sure to be Thaiindie Buffet, featuring a selection of independent Thai films (Thaiindie Showcase, 29th March at 8pm) and music videos (Experimental Music Videos, 27th March).

This evening, the Sompot+Thunska programme featured three works by Sompot Chidgasornpongse (Naoko Is Trying To Teach Me How To Make Tonkatsu In One Minute, 8,241.46 Miles Away From Home, and Landscape 101 01 1101 01...) and two new films by Thunska (Action! and Soak). There was also a Q&A session with Thunska.

Action! is a short compilation of out-takes from Zart Tanchareon's film God Man, featuring the actor Sitthipong Prempridi. Sitthipong died last year, and Action! is Thunska's tribute to him.

Soak stars Saifah Tanthana, who is filmed swimming in the sea (during which the soundtrack is dominated by the gurgling of the water) and riding a motorcycle, with the video camera representing Thunska's gaze. The film is an extended, improvised sequel to Thunska's first film, Private Life. It also recalls his film You Are Where I Belong To, which briefly features Thunska filming a man as they paddle in the sea.

The Bangkok Experimental Film Festival runs from yesterday until Sunday, primarily at Esplanade Cineplex.