Bangkok International Film Festival returns

9 Sept 14:22 Key points summarised by AI

The Bangkok International Film Festival (BKKIFF) is making a grand return from September 27 to October 15, 2025, after a 17-year hiatus, aiming to re-establish the metropolis as a major cinematic hub in Southeast Asia.
Spearheaded by a new organizing team with government support, the festival seeks to elevate the Thai film industry globally, positioning Bangkok as a center for film and contemporary culture, and promoting Thai cinema as a potent form of soft power.
Planned as the largest film festival in Southeast Asia, BKKIFF 2025 will screen over 200 films from more than 40 countries, offering masterclasses, film markets, and project pitching with a USD 25,000 prize pool to foster talent and raise filmmaking standards.
The relaunch aims to overcome past issues and restore Bangkok's reputation in the film world, with the world premiere of "Tee Yod 3 (Ghost Whisperer 3)" as the opening film and competitions for the prestigious Phra Surasawadee awards.

Examining Thailand’s four-part education revolution

Today 14:22 Key points summarised by AI

Thailand's Education Ministry is implementing a four-pronged strategy to address its students' below-average performance in PISA 2025 and tackle significant educational inequality.
The plan prioritizes closing performance gaps by increasing funding for small and low-income schools, overhauling the curriculum to foster critical thinking, and adopting a data-driven management system to reduce teacher workload.
Key initiatives include enhancing school safety, combating cyberbullying, and expanding mental health support through peer-to-peer networks, recognizing the severe impact of distress on academic performance.
An education expert advises verifying if PISA improvements stem from structural changes, advocating for a revived STEM curriculum with practical 'learn by doing' methods, and urging bureaucratic reform to link teacher evaluations to student development.