Thailand introduces speed dating to Busan

Busan regulars are by now used to going to Thai Night each year to meet with filmmakers and celebrate films such as W and So Be It, both making world premieres in Window on Asian Cinema this year.

The annual event was held on October 5 at the Park Hyatt with filmmaker/actress Princess Ubolratana Rajakanya Sirivadhana Barnavadi presiding.

What’s new this year is the Thai Creative Speed Dating event, hosted by the Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP), Ministry Of Commerce.

Visitors will get to meet with creative talent from the Thai film industry such as So Be It producer Soros Sukhum, Mary Is Happy, Mary Is Happy director Nawapol Thamrongrattanarit, who has The Master in the Asian Project Market, and Kan Thanyapraneedkul of Kantana Motion Pictures.

The speed-dating concept for industry meetings might not be new, but the added incentive of getting free drinks with stickers given to you by meeting counterparts gives it a ‘sanuk’ twist, as the Thais would say.

Event organiser Paul Spurrier explains the word ‘sanuk’ means ‘fun’ in Thai, “and often the sort of fun that makes any work both more pleasurable and more productive. Thus, in the spirit of ‘sanuk’, the DITP has designed an event, which will introduce the key talents of Thailand’s film industry to the international film community in a fun way. It’s the first time we have held such an event, and we hope it will start a tradition that will run as long as Thai Night.”

How it works: each visitor will get a card with circles on it. Every time they have a speed date meeting, their hosts will give them a sticker. When they fill a line of stickers, they can get a drink from the bar. When they have filled all three lines, they can get free drinks all night.

The event runs from 9pm to midnight, invitation only. Inquiries can be made at the Thai national stand in the Asian Film Market in the BEXCO.