Australian director Fred Schepisi, whose Empire Falls recently took home two Golden Globe awards, has been named President of the International Jury at the Bangkok International Film Festival (February 17-27).

Other members of the jury include actor/director Charles Dance (Ladies in Lavender, Swimming Pool, Gosford Park), actor/screenwriter Julie Delpy (Broken Flowers, Before Sunset), actor Nancy Kwan (The World of Susie Wong, Flower Drum Song), producer Donald Ranvaud (The Constant Gardener and Central Station), and Thai director Pantham Thongsang (I-Fak).
Craig Prater, executive director of the festival, said: “Mr. Schepisi’s impressive career brings a new prestige to the Bangkok festival. Being able to secure someone of Mr. Schepisi’s stature as president of our jury is a further indication that the festival has reached a new level of recognition on the international stage.”
BIFF has also succeeded in attracting more famous personalities than ever before. Confirmed to attend are: Vanessa Redgrave, Helen Mirren, Terry Gilliam, Willem Dafoe, Christopher Lee, Carlo Nero, Peter Chan, Taylor Hackford, Thom Fitzgerald, Diane Ladd, Deepa Mehta, Fernando Meirelles, Daniel Auteuil, Rita Moreno, Bruce Beresford, Pen-Ek Ratanaruang, Roger Donaldson, Chris Columbus, Wilson Jermaine Heredia, Tracie Thoms, Anthony Dod Mantle, Tadanobu Asano, Gang Hy Jung, Danis Tanovic, Vincent Ward, and Nadine Monfils.
Thailand’s Pen-Ek Rtanaruang’s Invisible Waves has been selected as the Opening Night film and Chris Columbus’ Rent has been selected for the Closing Night Gala.
The international jury will award the coveted Golden Kinnarree on Friday, February 24, 2006 to Best Film, Director, Actress and Actor from the feature films in competition.
Films included in the international competition are:
The Consequences of Love (Italy) Palo Sorrentino, director; House of Sand (Brazil) Andrucha Waddington, director; Invisible Waves (Thailand) Pen-EkRatanaruang; Istanbul Tales (Turkey) Umit Unal, Kudret Sabanci, Elim Demirdelen, Yucel Yolcu, Omur Atay; Mrs. Henderson Presents (United Kingdom) Stephen Frears, director; The Ring Finger (France) Diane Bertrand; River Queen (New Zealand / United Kingdom) Vincent Ward, director; Sympathy for Lady Vengeance (South Korea) Chan-Wook Park, director; Transamerica (USA) Duncan Tucker; Tsotsi (South Africa / United Kingdom) Gavin Hood, director; Water (Canada / India) Deepa Mehta; The White Masai (Germany)
Hermine Huntgeburth, director. (ends 354 words).
By Jeremy Colson