THE LAUNCH OF THAI FILM FESTIVAL IN MALAYSIA 2023: "BRIDGING THAINESS TO INTERNATIONAL AUDIENCE."

Thai Film Festival in Malaysia 2023: Bridging Thainess to International Audience is officially and successfully launched on Thursday 13 July 2023 at GSC Mid Valley Megamall. 

The Ceremony was graced 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, as well as Dip Corps were present to witness the launch. The Embassy had also flown in Thai stars, namely Mr. PARIS INTARAKOMALYASUT (Ice), Ms. PRAEWA SUTHAMPHONG (Miusic) and Ms. JENNIS OPRASERT (Jennis), from Thailand to appear and meet fans at the launch.

In the Opening Address, H.E. Lada emphasised, “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 recognized.” Her Excellency also appreciated that the Film Festival in Malaysia would have not turned out this successful if it were not from the continuous support of Malaysian friends and fanclubs since the previous Thai Film Festivals held in Malaysia in 2017 and 2019.

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 Ms. PRAEWA SUTHAMPHONG and Ms. JENNIS OPRASERT as Anne.

The Thai Film Festival in Malaysia 2023: Bridging Thainess to International Audience will feature five renowned 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), and  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, 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