Posted on Sun, 7 Aug 2011

Movie Magic In Phang Nga Bay

Ever found yourself immersed in an activity completely outside your familiar hunting ground, wondering how you got to be there? Then you realise you have been surprisingly enriched by it? One such experience for me recently was when I was persuaded to attend a talk by Jane Goodall (the chimpanzee lady) at Geylang East Library. I’m not so wild on nature, but it turned out very interesting and my humble epiphany was that hey, nature is interesting and it opened my eyes to a few more things in the world around me. A bit of inspirational brain food, I say.

I suspect the first ever Film On The Rocks will prove such an experience too. Not just a film fest against a poetic background, it has a more intellectual, thinking aspect to this whole programme as well, involving various communities and no doubt giving light to different perspectives.

What is it about? Film On the Rocks is an alternative, immersive programme of dialogue, art and film, under the theme ‘Evolve Back to Nature’. Taking place at Six Senses Yao Noi Beyond Phuket in Thailand from 16-20 December, see films dramatically screened on the rocks of Phang Nga Bay under the stars, engage in local activities and be part of invigorating dialogue with local communities, sea gypsies and filmmakers. The screenings will depend on the tides – remember we’re going ‘back to nature’.

Tilda Swinton, Cultural Activist and Producer, and Apichatpong Weerasethakul, Filmmaker and Winner of the 2010 Palme d’Or, will curate this festival. Others involved include Waris Ahluwalia, Jefferson Hack, Andre Saraiva, Olympia Le Tan.

Says the press release: “Film on the Rocks aspires to be an alternative platform upon which different worlds converge, to start a dialogue with not only each other, but also the environment. It proposes to do so by bringing luminaries together to Yao Noi, an island detached from common big city concerns to reflect upon the notion of shared experiences.”