The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) will be sponsoring the event under the helm of the Federation of National Film Association of Thailand. The film event, which will feature more than 50 comedy films, will run from 23 – 29 April, 2009, at Siam Paragon Cineplex and SF World Cinema at CentralWorld.

Laughter’s Beyond Frontier is the theme of the maiden comedy film festival in Bangkok, with an international array of films from such countries as the USA, UK, Italy, France, Germany, South Africa, Poland and Asian movies from Iran, Kazhakstan, Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, Singapore, China, Taiwan, as well as the host country Thailand.

Thailand has long been known as the Land of Smiles. Laughter and a smile symbolize happiness and fun. They are the two easiest things that people can give to one another. And both are universal feelings — they can be easily shared with other people regardless of nationality or language barrier. This being the case, the Federation of National Film Association of Thailand decided to adopt "Laughter’s Beyond Frontier,” as the theme for the 2009 film festival.

The film fest will feature 20 films from the World Cinema category, 20 movies from Asian Cinema, and 10 Thai comedies plus 5 classics. For more information about the event, log on to www.thailandworldcomedyfilm.com.

There are currently three major international comedy film festivals in the world: in Montreal, Melbourne and Berlin. However, most of the films selected for showing are from Europe and North America. Thailand’s counterpart will be the one with films from around the globe with a heavy focus on Asia.

This is the first time that the Comedian Association, the Federation of National Film Associations, and the Tourism Authority of Thailand are working together in close cooperation to showcase the local prowess of comedy acts in films and other kinds of media.

Main Activities:
Open Ceremony:
27 April 2009 at Central World
Welcoming guests from various foreign film industries, beginning with a fancy parade of local comedians dressed as the world's well — known comedians and characters.

Closing Ceremony:
3 May 2009 at Infinicity Hall Paragon, 5th Floor, Paragon
A gala night for comedians and festival participants, joining to pay tribute to one of the world's renowned film comedians with an honorary award for his or her contribution to the art and world of comedy.

Film Screenings:
50 films in total

Scope and Content
The screenings of comedy films from all over the world.
The tentative programme includes twenty films from Asian countries; such as, China, Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, India, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Lebanon, Palestine, Kyrgyz Stan, Sri Lanka and Syria, twenty films from Europe, America and Africa, ten Thai classic and contemporary films, and some internationally regarded shorts. The goal is to bring together highly successful comedy films, directors and actors with a special focus on Asian cinema.

Web site: www.thailandworldcomedyfilm.com