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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40022972

International film experts pinpoint the main hurdle facing Thai cinema – Thais

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2022

Nongluck Ajanapanya

Individual Thai films often make waves globally, but overall Thai cinema simply lacks the consistency to sustain a wave the way films from South Korea and Japan do, international film professionals told a seminar on Saturday as the 15th World Film Festival of Bangkok prepared to wind up.

The biggest hurdle facing Thai cinema is at home, they agreed.

Thai audiences do not support Thai films.

“It is not about nationalism to support your own country’s film. I simply ask that you be self-loving. Who will love you if you don’t love yourself?” Park Sungho, a programmer at the Busan International Film Festival, said at “The Opportunities for Thai Film in International Film Festivals” seminar.

Park was joined on the panel by Paolo Bertolin of the Venice Film Festival’s Selection Committee, Samuel Jamier of the New York Asian Film Festival, Sabrina Baracetti of the Udine Far East Film Festival, Thomas Bertache of the Udine Far East Film Festival, and Donsaron Kovitvanitcha, director of the World Film Festival of Bangkok, which concludes today.

The panelists agreed that Thai filmmakers are not novices in the international film market, noting that several Thai films have been massively successful internationally in terms of revenue, awards, and positive reviews over the last three decades.

Still, many film industry professionals, including Thais, are perplexed as to why Thai films are not as popular – or as widely distributed – as films from other Asian countries, particularly those from Japan and Korea.

Bertolin said he was surprised to learn that many Thai films that were successful internationally were not well known in Thailand and had generated very little revenue in the kingdom.

Park noted that Thai and Korean films have made unequal progress globally, saying this reflected different levels of support in their home markets.

The other panelists agreed that the support of local audiences is crucial for the success of a nation’s film industry because it provides the consistency necessary for the industry to develop in the long run.

Thai films are distinct and diverse, said Bertache.

“The storytelling is strong, and the image sequence is well-timed, with excellent composition and production. As a result, there are numerous opportunities for Thai films in international film markets and festivals,” he added.

Bertache, Bertolin, and Jamier said Thai filmmakers should not limit themselves to producing films for festivals, but should also make high-quality films to entertain Thais.

This includes making more movies for popular genres like comedy, romance, tragedy, and martial arts. Films like “Tom Yum Kung”, “Ong-Bak”, “Nang Nak”, and “Satree Lek” deserve support, they said.

The panelists also agreed that government support would help, saying that the success of a country’s film industry is due to the convergence of support from people, the private sector, and the government.

They urged the government to keep out of film production, give filmmakers more freedom, and relax censorship.

The government must be fair and open-minded, and refrain from interfering in the industry to achieve its own political agenda, they added.

Thailand has the human resources – as well as the necessary infrastructure, funding, and cutting-edge technology – to produce films that can shine in foreign markets, they agreed.

Even in tightly regulated markets like Italy’s, there are plenty of opportunities for Thai films, Baracetti said. She added: “All you need to do is be more confident.”

Sabrina Baracetti

Paolo Bertolin

Park Sungho

(From left) Samuel Jamier and Thomas Bertache

Nongluck Ajanapanya

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40022968

Titan shatters record with $1.3 million bid for lucky license plate

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2022

The much-coveted “9กก 9999” license plate fetched a record-breaking 45.09 million baht at an auction of special plates under the “9กก” category on Saturday, the Department of Land Transport said.

The category combines a repetition of “Kor” – the first letter of the Thai script – with a lucky number. It has never been auctioned before.

Investment firm Titan Capital Group Holding won the auction, which drew 202 bids.

“The number ‘9’ is synonymous with the phrase ‘take a step forward’ in Thai, while Chinese people believe the number will bring prosperity to trade,” the department explained.

The previous auction record was set in 2003 when the department received 28.10 million baht for plate “8กก 8888”.

The department is auctioning 301 “9กก” plates from Saturday to Sunday at its headquarters in Bangkok’s Chatuchak district.

The proceeds will be spent on promoting road safety and purchasing medical equipment for people who were disabled in road accidents.

Related stories:

• GHB earns THB3.5 billion from auction of repossessed properties
• NBTC to hold auction for five satellite slot packages early next year
• Millionaire licence plate snapped up for 8.54 million baht in Bangkok

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40022966

Elderly Thai man dies on flight home from Saudi Arabia

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2022

A 71-year-old Thai man died while on a flight home from Saudi Arabia on Saturday, according to the Ruamkatanyu Foundation which helped airport staff and police handle the emergency.

Foundation staff said they rushed to Suvarnabhumi International Airport when they were alerted by airport staff about the death after the plane landed at about 12pm.

They said they later tested the deceased – identified as Bahem Saeso – for Covid-19 using a rapid antigen test, which found he had the virus.

They had not confirmed the cause of death, but said the man died while on the flight and that an autopsy would be performed at Ramathibodi Chakri Naruebodindra Hospital.

The foundation is famous in Thailand for its more than seven decades of assistance to vulnerable people, including deceased people who have no relatives.

Related stories:

• Covid-19 treatments still free under Thailand’s SSO scheme
• Thais urged to get booster shots as Covid-19 subvariant’s prevalence increases
• BA.2.75 now responsible for 75% of new Covid-19 cases in Thailand

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40022957

Selling fake banknotes can land you in jail for life, Bank of Thailand warns

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2022

People caught selling or buying fake banknotes can face life in prison, the Bank of Thailand warned on Saturday.

Somboon Jitpenthom, the central bank’s assistant governor, said BOT has been keeping a close eye on social media posts offering to sell counterfeit currency.
He said BOT is also working closely with the Royal Thai Police’s Economic Crime Suppression Division and Central Investigation Bureau to collect evidence and facts.
Somboon warned that people involved in the sale or purchase of forged banknotes can face a maximum penalty of life in prison and/or fines of up to 400,000 baht.
People who knowingly use fake bank notes can land in jail for one to 15 years and/or be hit with a fine of up to 300,000 baht, he added.

Somboon also said that many social-media users get tricked into transferring money in exchange for fake foreign currency. Though in many cases, victims do not get anything.
He said that BOT has learned that these social media accounts are used by criminals to fool their victims, and urged users to be more careful before making any money transfers.
Somboon also advised members of the public to carefully check banknotes to ensure they are genuine.
He said people should look for unique watermarks in the notes.
Details of all Thai banknotes can be found at https://www.bot.or.th/English/Banknotes/Pages/identify.aspx.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40022952

Covid-19 treatments still free under Thailand’s SSO scheme

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2022

Subscribers to the national healthcare scheme will still be covered for Covid-19 even though it has been declared endemic in Thailand, the Social Security Office (SSO) has said.

In a Facebook post on Friday, SSO said people who test positive and have symptoms like fever, coughing, fatigue or develop pneumonia can be treated for free at their designated hospital.

Under the Social Security Act’s Articles 33 and 39, people are eligible to free treatment if they have contributed to the scheme for at least three months.

Meanwhile, those who have lost their jobs will remain eligible for free treatment for at least six months from the date of termination under Articles 38 and 41.

In its explanation, SSO said the office will cover the basic treatment costs, but not extra requests made by the patient.

It also said that though the designated hospital will be the “main hospital”, beneficiaries can seek free treatment at other hospitals or clinics under its jurisdiction.

If the designated hospital is not able to treat the patient and has to transfer them to another, the designated hospital will have to cover the expenses.

The SSO suggested that beneficiaries contact SSO staff at the hospital or at the closest SSO branch.

Visit www.sso.go.th or call the 1506 hotline for more information.

Related stories

• Thais urged to get booster shots as Covid-19 subvariant’s prevalence increases
• Vaccines losing race against new Omicron mutants in Thailand: Dr Yong
• BA.2.75 now responsible for 75% of new Covid-19 cases in Thailand

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40022951

Thai govt postpones collection of land and building tax again

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2022

The collection of land and building tax has been delayed by two more months due to the damage caused by recent flooding in many provinces.

Interior Minister Anupong Paochinda released a statement last month saying the implementation of the 2019 Land and Building Tax Act was being postponed.
The announcement said many local administrative organisations have been unable to survey the land and buildings subject to taxes, even though the flooding has improved in many areas.
The statement said that to ensure “effective and complete collection of tax”, the interior minister has shifted the deadline for local administrative organisations to survey taxable buildings and land by two months to January.
The deadline for the payment of land and building tax has also been postponed.

The local administrative organisations now have until April 1 instead of February 1 to announce the tax rates, the statement said.
The tax forms can be mailed to taxpayers within April instead of February, while the submission of the forms has been put off from April to June.
The deadline for tax payment is now June instead of April.
The interior minister’s announcement, dated November 14, was published in the Royal Gazette on Friday.
The collection of land and building tax had been postponed several times to help ease the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on taxpayers.
“The original schedule for people required to comply with the Land and Building Tax Act of 2019, regarding the tax collection for land and buildings in 2022, shall be extended for three more months,” read the interior minister’s announcement issued in June.
The move came after the private sector pushed for the tax payment deadline to be delayed in a bid to ease the burden caused by the pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war.