Bangkok Cinema Scene special: Thai films at the 62nd Cannes Film Festival

Just one Thai film is in the official selection for this year's Cannes Film Festival -- the most prestigious cinema event on the planet.

It's called Nymph or Nang Mai and it's directed by Pen-ek Ratanaruang. It's screening in the Un Certain Regard competition. That's the edgier, second-tier category under the main Palme d'Or program.

I don't want to get too much into what the film is about because it's a mysterious thriller, and I think the less we know about it before we see it the better. So whatever you do, don't read the official synopsis.

Girly Berry's "Gybzy" Wanida Temthanaporn -- Pen-ek's new muse --stars. Briefly, she's a wife whose husband (Nopachai Jayanama, Lord Rachamanu from Naresuan 2) disappears into the forest and comes back a different man. It also involves a tree spirit. So pray to those trees when you pee on them.

NBT anchorman Chamanan Wanwinwet and Porntip Papanai also star.

Nymph is supposed to open in Thai cinemas on July 2. It's a co-production with Fortissimo Films, the Hong Kong-Netherlands based company that was formerly run by Wouter Barendrecht, who tragically and suddenly died in Bangkok when he was here to watch a rough cut of Nymph. He was an influential figure, and the film and the entire official selection at Cannes this year is dedicated to him.

So that is it for the "official selection" this year. In past year's Thailand has had a bit bigger presence.

But head over to the Marche du Film -- the Cannes Film Market -- and you'll find all kinds of Thai films.

Sahamongkol Film International put up a poster for the current top Thai movie, Saranair Haao Peng -- it made 50 million baht its first week -- thinking that gun-toting Willie McIntosh (pictured above) would get some looks and attract buyers.

There's quite a few Thai films screening in the film market. Here's the list:

• Best of Times (Kwaam Jam San Dtae Rak Chan Yaao) by Yongyoot Thongkongtoon (GTH)
• Meat Grinder by Tiwa Moeithaisong (Federation of National Film Associations of Thailand)
• Nymph by Pen-ek Ratanaruang (Cannes Film Festival)
• Power Kids by Krissanapong Rachata (Sahamongkol)
• The Sanctuary by Thanapon Maliwan (Birch Tree Entertainment)
• The Scout by Pleo Sirisuwan (Golden Network)

Those could be "world", "international" or "European" (or maybe just "French") premieres, not that I put too much stock in the meaning of "premiere" anymore, especially when it concerns a market screening. I mean, we're talking about conference center room with maybe 60 plastic chairs set up -- not like a proper cinema or anything -- in which potential buyers will be ducking in and out looking for something they think will sell.

Other Thai films at the Cannes Film Market are:

• Coming Soon (Program Na Winyarn Arkad) by Sophon Sakdaphisit (GTH)
• Fireball by Thanakorn Pongsuwan (Golden Network)

GTH will also unveil a 20-minute clip of Haa Phrang or Phobia 2, which I think is a tentative English title. Surely the clever folks at GTH are going to come up with a new number-based pun like they did for See Phrang or 4Bia. And since Banjong Pisanthanakun is the only director credited, I'm guessing this would perhaps be Banjong's segment for the five-film omnibus that will reunite the four 4Bia directors plus one more surprise director.

(Cross-published at the Thai Film Journal; photo by AFP/LOIC VENANCE)