Censor Must Die

After their controversial film Shakespeare Must Die was banned last year, director Ing Kanjanavanit and producer Manit Sriwanichpoom have taken a cheeky jab at Thailand’s censorship process with their documentary film Censor Must Die, which explores the workings of the censorship committee. They just announced that the Office of Film and Video Censorship has permitted the documentary’s screening at Silpakorn University on Aug 22. It should also screen in local cinemas soon.

Karaoke Girl

More positive news from Thailand’s independent film scene comes in the form of Hidden Rooster Films’ Karaoke Girl, a documentary with fictional elements. It’s the work of director Visra Vichit-Vadakarn, who recently won the Emerging International Filmmaker Award at London’s Open City Docs Fest 2013, and tells the story of Sa, an escort girl who works in a karaoke bar to support her family upcountry. The film will screen at Lido and Major Esplanade from Oct 3, House RCA from Oct 17 and Major Cineplex Chiang Mai from Oct 10.