Luang Prabang Film Festival

Short Synopsis

The annual Luang Prabang Film Festival (LPFF) will present 30+ films on a Southeast Asian theme to tourists and locals over 8 days in December 2010, marking the 35th anniversary of the Lao PDR and Luang Prabang's 15th year on the UNESCO World Heritage Site list. The screenings will take place in 4 venues (2 indoor, and 2 outdoor) in the ancient capital of Laos. After the main festival, the top 4 award-winning films will tour 5 other major provinces in Laos, with screenings and mini-festivals held over 2-day stops in each city.

Description/Treatment

Summary of Project

The annual Luang Prabang Film Festival (LPFF) will present 30+ films on a Southeast Asian theme to tourists and locals over 8 days in December 2010, marking the 35th anniversary of the Lao PDR, and Luang Prabang's 15th year on the UNESCO World Heritage Site list. The screenings will take place in 4 venues (2 indoor, and 2 outdoor) in the ancient capital of Laos. After the festival, the top 4 award-winning films will tour 5 other major provinces in Laos, with screenings and mini-festivals held over 2-day stops in each city.

Problem Statement

In the long history of the country, Laos has produced very few films, especially in the past 30 years. The first major feature film to be produced in Laos and have international success was in2008, with Sabaidee, Luang Prabang. As a result of this, the Lao have little understanding of the film industry, and no concept of it as a potential career. The Lao are active consumers of foreign media (the largest portion being from Thailand), but produce very little media of their own. Currently, foreign studios and filmmakers are not yet considering Laos as a filming location in a way that they could be. Laos could be an excellent budget location for films. Lastly, there has never been a major film festival in Laos.

Project Goals

1) To encourage and celebrate filmmaking in Southeast Asia, and to open doors for cross-collaboration.

2) To stimulate a film industry in Laos.

3) To inspire young Lao to enter the film industry.

4) To educate Lao about the art of film and also media literacy.

5) To bring tourist dollars to the local communities.

Venues

Luang Prabang currently has no working cinemas, so screenings will take place in non-traditional venues (2 indoor, and 2 outdoor) that will be equipped with projection equipment and seating. For the traveling festival, the provincial governments will work together with LPFF to determine the best possible location for screenings and a community-centered event. Proposed venues in Luang Prabang:

1) That Luang: Luang Prabang's old stadium, which is the main locale for smaller sporting events. The grassy field is quite large, and accommodates the traveling fairs whenever they come to town. The area could be divided into different sections to house different events happening simultaneously. This space could easily accommodate over 7,000 people.

2) Siengsavan: A former movie theater turned restaurant/performance space, this building is not currently being used. One of the largest buildings in town, Siengsavan could be an interesting space to pay homage to its original purpose. The building has a stage inside, with plenty of room to accommodate vendors. The space could accommodate around 800 people.

3) Le Tam Tam: Another former cinema turned karaoke bar, and is now being used as a restaurant. Near the town's main intersection, this space has a stage and is a more intimate venue. The space could accommodate around 500 people.

4) The Handicraft Market: This outdoor space sits on the main intersection in town, at the end of the night market. It is very central, and easy to access. The space could accommodate around 400 people.

Motion Picture Ambassadors & Films Screened

Each ASEAN country will have an appointed Motion Picture Ambassador. This person is preferably a national of the country they represent, works in the media or arts industry, and is well connected to local filmmakers. They must have a deep understanding of their country's filmmaking history and its potential, possess a good relationship with the government and its film department, and have connections to varied news media outlets. It will be their responsibility to suggest between 5 and 10 films made within the past 3 years, which represent the best their country has to offer. They will also be required to suggest one honoree from their country for each of the Special Programs (see below), and to generate national and international press with their industry connections. The core staff will narrow down the suggested films to a more manageable quantity, before a small committee of Lao nationals and foreigners will decide on the final films to be screened. A celebrity judge will determine the top 4 award-winning films that will be given Lao subtitles (or possibly dubbed), which will then be shown in 5 other provinces as part of the traveling festival. Both feature-length fiction films and documentaries will be screened.

Special Programs

LPFF will hold 3 special programs that pay tribute to the film industries in Southeast Asia, by...

1) Honoring a person who has made a significant impact on filmmaking in one of the ASEAN countries. This can be a director, producer, or actor, who has made momentous achievements in the industry.

2) Honoring a person who will make a significant impact on filmmaking in one of the ASEAN countries. This can be a director, producer, or actor. They will have shown their potential for changing the face of film in their country.

3) Featuring a special historical filmic event from Southeast Asia. Ideally, this will be presented as a series of films, shown over one day in one venue, and supplemented by an expert presenting background on the event. For example, in the first year of the festival, LPFF could present a series of Lao communist propaganda films from the 1950s-1970s.

Lectures

Professionals in the film industry will individually lecture about working in the business. Preferably, these professionals will be Southeast Asian, of Southeast Asian descent, or with experience working in Southeast Asia. At the end of the festival, the speakers will come together for a group panel regarding the future of film in Laos and Southeast Asia. The speakers will come from different perspectives on the industry- actors, producers, directors, documentarians, and academics, and may also be a Motion Picture Ambassador. The US Embassy has offered its connections to invite big-name celebrities to the event.

Educational Activities

Lao Art Media will produce a movie (in the Lao language, with English subtitles) on film history and the process of film production. This film will be shown at the festival in Luang Prabang, and at the traveling festivals as well. Filmmakers in Luang Prabang and/or Vientiane will teach workshops over a period of a couple months, at no cost to students interested in the industry, via a partnership with The Language Project, a local non-profit. Small groups of students would each produce a short film, which could possibly be shown at the festival. The Lao children's book publisher Big Brother Mouse will print books about the history and process of filmmaking to be distributed at high schools. At the festival, Lao Art Media will set up a small studio where visitors could see and touch video equipment (camera, lights, sound), showing young Lao what is behind the scenes.

Press & Advertising

LPFF will be advertising the festival on national, regional, and international levels. There will be advertisements and/or press in international film and arts magazines, as well as on websites devoted to film and the arts. Advertisements and/or press will be placed in regional and possibly international in-flight airline magazines. Regional and international organizations have already agreed to promote the festival to their members. Regional film festivals and LPFF will cross-promote our events to the public. The organizers of LPFF have many international media contacts that are willing to publish articles about the festival, drawing attention to its purpose, and its funders.

Sponsorship/Funding Request

LPFF is in the process of looking for sponsors to back this ground breaking project. The sponsors would be responsible for making the event possible, and would receive the greatest acclaim for their support. We seek savvy and forward-thinking companies to sponsor this unprecedented event in Laos, likely the biggest international arts event the country has ever held. Ideally, funds would be made available to LPFF for the duration of the 12 months it will take to produce the festival in its first year (January - December 2010), though payment schedules are flexible. US-based organizations and individuals can make tax-deductible donations through our fiscal sponsor, Media Alliance.