LET'S GET ANIMATED!

       Organisers of the first Bangkok International Animation Festival have plenty of reasons to smile
       With just two weeks left to go before the curtain rises on a new showcase under the overall umbrella of the Bangkok International Film Festival, organisers are sighing in relief that the budget has finally been approved and the Bangkok International Animation Film Festival will take place as planned from September 25 to 30.
       Organised by the Software Industry Promotion Agency in cooperation with the Federation of National Film Associations of Thailand, the project has been in hiatus while waiting for the government to okay the money.
       "Though we've been working on the festival for months, we couldn't announce it until we had the budget," says Lak Taechawanchai, chairman of the Thai Animation and Computer Graphics Association and festival director.
       More than 40 animations made between 2007 and 2009 were quickly selected for screening by the Annecy Film Festival team in France after the organisers called for help.
       "We want to thank all the companies that agreed to join us at the last minute," says Auchara Kijkanjanas, producer of the two "Khan Kluay" movies, who helped to make contact with the French festival.
       'Penguin' premiere
       The festival opens with the Japanese-French production "Yona Yona Penguin", the latest feature animation from "Metropolis" director Rintaro.
       The 68-year-old animation wizard, who was also behind such Japanese manga hits as "Galaxy Express 999", will be in Bangkok to attend the movie's world premiere.
       The Thai company Imagimax was also involved in the production process. "We've worked in just about every aspect of animation processing for the past three years," says Imagimax executive producer Sirisak Koshpasharin.
       "Yona Yona Penguin" tells the story of Coco, a little girl who wears a penguin suit every night believing that that one day she'll be able to fly.
       "Unlike other 3D animations that come with realistic pictures, these pictures are more like paintings," says Sirisak.
       The festival closes with "Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea", the latest work by Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki. It's been showing at local cinemas since last month.
       Thai toons
       There are two competition sections - Animation Feature and Short Animation. Up for awards are "Mary and Max", which won the Cristal for the best feature film at Annecy, and the short "El Empleo" from Argentina, which won the Annecy Fipresci award.
       With the Thai animation industry having only a few films to showcase, they've all been slated for screening. That includes both "Khan Kluay" movies as well as "Nak" and "Buddha".
       "The Adventure of Sudsakorn", Payut Ngaokrachang's 1979 animated feature - Thailand's first - will be shown on Payut Night at Paragon Cineplex on September 29 in a tribute to the pioneering 80-year-old director.
       CARTOON CALENDAR
       >> Seminars include "The Future of Feature Films: 3D Steroscopic" and "Thai Animation Education in the Second Era". They're being held at Chatrium Suite Hotel.
       >> The schedule is combined with the Bangkok International Film Festival. Visit www.BangkokFilm.org and www.BKKIAF.org.