20 Apr – The inaugural Thai Film Festival officially kicks off today in Malaysia! The opening ceremony for the film festival was held yesterday evening at GSC Pavilion KL, with the omnibus film "A Gift" as the opening film. "A Gift" actress Note Panayanggool made a special appearance at the event, performing the song "Yam Yen" ("Love at Sundown") – a soundtrack from the movie – before sitting down for a quick interview prior to the movie's screening.
"I was very honoured to be part of "A Gift", to be able to sing [the King's] song," said the actress after her performance. Note plays the character Ploysang in the movie, a part which she revealed she got after her friend, the lead actress Violette Wautier, told her the director was looking for a girl to play the friend to Violette's character, Pang. The movie, which features three love stories all inspired by songs from the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand, is one of the five movies that will be screened during the week-long Thai Film Festival.
The other four movies are Mario Maurer-starrer "Take Me Home", romantic drama "One Day", traditional dance-themed "The Crown" and romantic comedy "Mr. Hurt", whose director Ittisak Eusunthornwattana and actress Mashannoad Suvanamas were also present at the opening ceremony yesterday. "I really hope you enjoy all the movies here. It's really a great opportunity for us, Thai people, to be showing our work and films here," said Note. Also gracing the event yesterday evening was His Excellency Damrong Kraikruan, Ambassador of Thailand to Malaysia, who, in his opening speech, mentioned that the film festival was held "as part of the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Malaysia and Thailand." So go and enjoy the award-winning Thai movies that will be screened at the first ever Thai Film Festival in Malaysia, taking place from today until 26 April 2017. To find out more about the film festival's movies and to get the cinema showtimes, click HERE.