Special report by Lekha Shanar
The Bangkok International Film Festival, which was resurrected last year after a long hiatus, launched its second edition on Saturday. The opening event, held at the spectacular outdoor riverside location of ICONSIAM, was impressive and enjoyable.
To this writer, who has been an active film-festival-goer in the city for many years, perhaps the most impressive aspect of this year’s festival is the way it has brought together Thailand’s large and diverse film industry in a rare display of unity and camaraderie.
It was therefore particularly heartening to see established and emerging Thai directors and actors, as well as commercial and new-age filmmakers, all turning up in strength for yesterday’s opening.
It is also highly significant that the festival is being sponsored by the Ministry of Culture under the new government, and one sincerely hopes that this link will endure. One of those particularly pleased about the partnership was Dr Suraphong Suebwonglee, who headed THACCA under the previous government and now heads the Thai Creative Economy unit of the current government.
A major goal of the current Ministry of Culture is to globalise the Thai film industry, which is why they sent a mega delegation to the prestigious Cannes Festival earlier in the year. In fact, the theme of the 2026 Bangkok International Film Festival is “Connecting Stories, Creating Opportunities“, signifying its aim to project Thai films and make global connections.
Culture Minister Saida Thaiseth particularly referred to this objective of her Ministry, in her remarks. Guest of honour Princess Ubolratana also touched on the theme, ending her excellent speech with the important line:
“Let us build a bridge between Thailand and the world.”
The opening event included a lavish red-carpet walk, featuring well-known actors and directors from Thailand and across the Asian region, including Korea, Japan, Malaysia, Indonesia, China, Vietnam, and Myanmar. The Bangkok film festival’s focus on Asian cinema is laudable.
The festival features 155 films from 22 countries, many of them award-winners from leading international festivals. They have been carefully selected by festival director Donsaron Kovitvanicha, who not only visited many of these festivals but also served on the Critics’ Week jury at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival this year. A modest and soft-spoken individual, he’s an amazing film curator and festival director, who has been marvellously steering the film festival scenario in the city over the last three years.
There are many categories at this year’s festival, including classics, retrospectives, animations, documentaries, as well as an important Business and Market Section, for Thai filmmakers to interact with overseas film markets.
The Competition section features as many as 18 noteworthy films.
Among these is the Thai film 9 Temples to Heaven which also served as the opening film yesterday. It is a moving, religious road movie and family drama with strong social and political overtones. An assistant of the great indie Thai filmmaker Apichatpong Weerasethakul for many years, Director Sompot Chidgasornpongse, in his debut feature, has made a movie that is amazingly Thai in its content, and yet rare and memorable in its human perspective.
The movie, which has created waves at many major international film festivals, including Cannes, has been selected as Thailand’s entry for the Oscars. It will have a public release in Thailand after the festival.
With free screenings and many venues (ICONSIAM, Siam Paragon, SF Cinema, House Samyan, Docu Club, and the new Cloud 11), the 2026 Bangkok International Film Festival is a rare opportunity for film lovers across the city to experience the best of world cinema at their doorstep.
Don’t Miss it!
The 2026 Bangkok International Film Festival runs from 13–27 September.
For details, check bkkiff.co