Phuket Film Fest in June

PHUKET: Film buffs will be pleased to hear that the second ever Phuket Film Festival is set to take place on the island in June.

Organizers are hoping this year’s event, from June 4 to 13, will be bigger and better than the festival debut in 2007.

That year the seven-day festival saw the screening of 40 films from 15 different countries, attracting a crowd of more than 3,600 people to Phuket theaters.

In 2008, the festival went on hiatus, aiming to return in 2009. But the volatile political situation in Thailand that year forced the organizers to cancel.

“The Cannes International Film Festival historically had a rocky three-to-four-year start and while we don’t want to emulate them, we sure do want to grow up to be like them,” said Scott Rosenberg, director of the Phuket filmfest.

The organizers recently released a Call for Entries.

Filmmakers are invited to submit ‘screeners’ of features, documentaries, shorts and animations for possible screenings at the event.

More information can be found at the festival website.

Preference will be given to award-winning filmmakers and world or Asian premiers.

The 2010 Festival expects to screen about 30 to 40 films.

Submissions will be accepted until April 30, 2010. There is a fee of US$50 for each submission.