Hua Hin's first film festival gets underway Jan. 26.
Almost a century after it served as a filming location for ‘Miss Suwanna of Siam’, one of Thailand’s first motion pictures, this storied seaside resort is getting set to draw the curtains back on the inaugural Hua Hin International Film Festival.
From Jan. 26-29, venues in Hua Hin will screen more than 50 movies from around the world as part of an event aimed at showcasing “the best of cinema and the best of Hua Hin,” said Dr. Sorajak Kasemsuvan, the festival’s director.
“Hua Hin has a great history and has always been a favorite spot of the Thai royal family,” added Suwat Liptapanlop, the festival’s chairman. “The town will offer all of our guests a taste of true Thai hospitality.”
Organized by the National Federation of Thai Film Associations (NFTFA), Hua Hin Municipality and the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), the Hua Hin International Film Festival will bring together artists from all walks of the movie industry, including actors So Ji-sub and Han Hyo-joo of the critically acclaimed Korean melodrama ‘Always’.
Other films slated to show are:
* ’360′, starring Jude Law and Academy Award winners Anthony Hopkins and Rachel Weisz;
* ‘Magic to Win’, a fantasy adventure from veteran Hong Kong producer Raymond Wong;
* ‘Warriors of the Rainbow’, the most expensive film ever made in Taiwan;
* ‘The Lady’, a biopic of Burmese democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi;
* ‘Fool for Love’, a romantic comedy set in Vietnam; and
* ‘KL Gangster’, a box-office hit in Malaysia;
Like all international film festivals, Hua Hin‘s will spotlight more than movies. Seminars by leading academics and film industry professionals, nightly activities at Centennial Park, live music performances and a closing ceremony featuring an awards presentation are part of the festival mix, too.
Organizers also plan to display an exhibition of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej‘s photographs, which “capture the town of Hua Hin during his frequent stays, and celebrate not only his creativity, but his many contributions to the people of Hua Hin and Thailand,” said Kasemsuvan.
To preview some of the festival’s films, visit the event’s official Youtube channel.
When it comes to history, tranquility and luxury, few destinations in the world rival the Thai coastal districts of Hua Hin and Cha Am. This blog is a forum for managers of the area's leading hotels, resorts and marketing initiative ('It's in Hua Hin') to share their perspectives on a region that only gets better with age.
