Film Festival to be held in Luang Prabang

(KPL) Film Department, in cooperation with the Society Corporation, Film Aid International and Open Air Cinema are preparing to hold Luang Prabang Film Festival between 4 and 11December in Luang Prabang.

This festival will present more than 30 films from 10 ASEAN Countries over eight nights to mark the 35th Anniversary of the Lao PDR and Luang Prabang’s 15th Year on the UNESCO World Heritage Site list.

Project Director Mr Gabriel Kuperman said that this festival would be held at the end of every year and each ASEAN country would have an appointed Motion Picture Ambassador who is preferably a national of the country they represent, works in the media or arts industry, and is well connected to local filmmakers to suggest 10 fiction or documentary feature-length films made within the past five years.

After the main event in Luang Prabang, four films will be taken on a travelling circuit that will enable Lao audiences in select other provinces to enjoy the thrill of seeing film on the big screen.

He said, “The main goals of this project are to encourage and celebrate filmmaking in Southeast Asia, stimulate a film industry in Laos, educate Lao about the art of film and also media literacy, inspire young Lao to enter the film industry and support local economy through tourism.

“This year, we have teamed up with UNICEF to present the One Minute Jr Project; an international arts based initiative that gives youth the chance to express themselves through video. We will hold a 5-day workshop for around 15 students, which will teach them enough basic camera, directing, storytelling and teamwork skills to each produce a 60 second video that will be put on the One Minutes Jr Website” Mr Kuperman added.

The first major feature film to be produced in Laos and have international success was Sabaidee Luang Prabang debuted in 2008.

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