Independent Filmmakers Need More Support From the Government1 min read

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For young people in Thailand, independent film is a relatively new phenomenon. Not until Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives became the first South-East Asian film to win the Palme d’Or award at Cannes in 2010 did Thai society start to become familiar with the art form.

The story, directed by Apichartpong Weerasethakul, explores reincarnation from the point of view of an ailing man and is still known as a complex and challenging work.

Despite an increase in such offerings, the Thai independent film industry is facing major challenges. The ecosystem of the whole film sector lacks a supportive legal environment and, of course, censorship remains an issue, often seemingly applied without clear standards.

Read the full commentary by Kamonrat Chayamarit, a programme officer with the Culture Unit at UNESCO Bangkok, here>>

Photo credit: ThaiEnquirer