FCCT-The Foreign Correspondents' Club of Thailand

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Contemporary World Cinema

As part of our expanding cultural offerings, the FCCT last year introduced a new occasional film series on contemporary world cinema. Thanks to the efforts of FCCT member Lekha Shankar and the cooperation of several embassies and cultural attaches, we are able to bring you some of the best films from the modern world stage. From countries near and far, we are delighted to bring these motion pictures to you.

Keep watching the weekly Bulletin or this web site for details of our offerings from the best in films from around the world.

To check the current film schedule, please click here to display the Bulletin. To subscribe to the Bulletin for future film schedules by e-mail, please click here

To see photos from recent live in person appearances at FCCT by famous Thai movie stars, please click here.

Upcoming Highlights

May
Tues, May 13 - Press Conference- Envoy for Peace presents: One year anniversary of Inter-faith Dialogue on Building Peace in Southern Thailand (2:00 pm)

Wed, May 14 - Press Conference- United Nations Information Services: Update on United Nations humanitarian assistance to Myanmar (11:00am) Click here for details.

Wed, May 14 - Thai South and Malay North: Ethnic Interactions on a Plural Peninsula: Book Launch and Discussion with Michael J. Montesano and Patrick Jory (8:00 pm)

Thurs, May 15 - Seven Burma umbrella organizations- Press Conference on Burma’s Referendum and Cyclone: National Referendum Held amidst Gross Injustice and Grave Humanitarian Crisis (10:00 am) Click here for details.

Thurs, May 15 - 4 luni, 3 saptamâni si 2 zile (4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days), screening at the FCCT made possible through the kind cooperation of the Embassy of Romania, with a glass of Romania’s famed Dealu Mare Merlot wine available (8:00 pm)

Fri, May 16 - Press Conference- United Nations Information Services: Update on United Nations humanitarian assistance to Myanmar (11:00am) Click here for details.

Fri, May 16 - Jazz Night (live jazz) (8:00 pm)

Mon, May 19 - Visakha Bucha Day. Clubhouse is closed.

Tues, May 20 - NEW DATE FOR: The Cats of Mirikitani, documentary screening at the FCCT made possible through the kind cooperation of the Japan Foundation (8:00 pm)

Thurs, May 22 - Panel Discussion - The new Route 3 linking China, Laos and Thailand with Patana Sittisombat from Chiang Rai Chamber of Commerce, Dr. Akhom Termpittayapaisith, Deputy Secretary-General of the Office of the National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB) and Mr. Jean-Pierre Verbiest Country Director of ADB (Thailand) Details to be announced later.

Fri, May 23 - Jazz Night (live jazz) (8:00 pm)

Thurs, May 29 - Chak De! India (Go for It, India), screening at the FCCT made possible through the kind cooperation of Bollywood-Thai Co., Ltd., together with a delicious Indian feast prepared by Indus restaurant, provided through the courtesy of the Embassy of India (8:00 pm)

Fri, May 30 - Catuddisa Sangha (CS) Press Conference: Buddhists Peace & Solidarity March, The Pray Day for World Peace by Buddhists (10:00 am)

Fri, May 30 - Jazz Night (live jazz) (8:00 pm)

June
Tues, June 10 - Pavarotti Forever (documentary from Italy), Courtesy of the Embassy of Italy (8:00 pm)

Tues, June 17 - Yale University’s singers are back: Concert with Whim’n Rhythm (8:00 pm)

Thurs, June 19 - Indien (In English: India), a film from Austria, Courtesy of the Embassy of Austria, which will also serve wine (8:00 pm)

Click here to read the current Bulletin, with full details of the current calendar of events.

Attending FCCT Programs

All individuals are welcome to attend any of the FCCT programs. Evening programs usually have a cover charge for non-members. Exceptions to this include sponsored programs and our Friday night live jazz. For those who wish to frequently attend programs, we invite you to apply for membership. You don't have to be foreign and you don't have to be a correspondent to join. In fact, more than half our members are not in the press. Please click on the "Membership" button on the left to learn about benefits of membership.

The stars come to FCCT

In April the stars and directors of two recent popular Thai movies came to FCCT for Q&A sessions at the showings of their films as part of the Club's Contemporary World Cinema series.

On the left, "Gof" (Akara Amarttayakul) in "Muay Thai Chaiya".
On the right with co-star of "My Talking Dic", Caitlin Haas and FCCT movie organizer, Lekha Shanker)

"Gof" Akara Amarttayakul, winner of the Best Actor award for 2007, attended the screening of his action-packed film, "Muay Thai Chaiya" and the enjoyable short film, "My Talking Dic". He regaled the movie-lovers with the description of his working life in Bangkok, as well as his student life in in New York City. Gof's easy charm, excellent English, and articulate manner won over the FCCT audience, which stayed long after the Q&A to chat with the actor. Also appearing were the American model-actress Caitlin Haas, co-star of My Talking Dic, and the directors, Zoe Popham and Chakkaphan Vutthakanok.

On the left, Ananda Everingham in "Me Myself".
On the right Ananda, his father, John Everingham, and his girlfriend, "Jeed" Sangthong Ked-uthong at FCCT)

It was a cosy home-coming for Australian-Lao actor, Ananda Everingham, when he came to the FCCT for the screening of his film, "Khaw Hai Rak Jong Jaroen" ("Me Myself"). Also at the club was his father, John Everingham, a well-known photojournalist and publisher and a long-time member of the FCCT. The Club's waiters remembered the cute, shy youngster, who accompanied his father many years back, and were delighted to meet him again in his new role as a famous movie icon. Ananda mixed freely with everyone and spoke frankly to the audience about his film-career.

Ananda was accompanied by the director of the film, Pongpat Wachirabunjong, who has just completed a second film with the actor, "Happy Birthday", to be released soon, and his model-actress girl friend, "Jeed" Sangthong Ked-uthong.

The King of Thailand in World Focus

This outstanding updated edition of the book (2007) is still available from the FCCT office at these prices:

FCCT member price-1,200 baht each (for the first 3 books and 1.450 baht for additional books)
Non-member price-1,450 baht

A new edition (third edition) will be published this year.

The world's longest-reigning monarch seen through the eyes of foreign journalists and photographers. A unique royal history spanning nearly eight decades of turmoil and triumph.

King Bhumibol Adulyadej, Rama IX: Great Strength of the Land, ninth king in the Chakri Dynasty, Father of the Nation, peacemaker, Thailand's longest reigning monarch, the world's longest reigning living monarch. Jazz composer, saxophonist, artist, inventor, patent holder, sailor, philanthropist, animal lover, expert in agriculture and irrigation.

Born in Boston and educated in Europe, this is an account of a teenager who ascended the throne in the shadow of tragedy to be confronted by turbulence at home and revolution in neighboring Indochina. For nearly half a century, King Bhumibol has remained inside Thailand, dedicating himself to the country's poor, and wielding moral authority according to his personal philosophy: Give more, take less.

This book documents a remarkable life through foreign newspaper, magazine and wire service reports as compiled by the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Thailand (FCCT). The original version of The King of Thailand in World Focus was undertaken in 1987 to coincide with King Bhumibol's 60th birthday. It has long been out of print, but remains one of the most insightful and readable works on Thailand's widely revered monarch.

In June 2006, nationwide celebrations marked the 60th anniversary of King Bhumibol's accession to the throne, and 5 December 2007 is his 80th birthday. At a much more modest level, the FCCT passed the 50-year mark in 2006. One of the activities undertaken to mark these anniversaries was updating the 1987 royal book.

This new edition of The King of Thailand in World Focus has been expanded, and completely redesigned and reformatted. It includes foreign coverage of the intervening years during which King Bhumibol became the world's longest reigning living monarch. The period has not been plain sailing by any means. The dramatic royal intervention in May 1992 to end political chaos and bloodshed is still dramatically etched on the world's collective imagination. The tense political standoff of 2006, when Thai politicians once again grappled with the fine print of constitutional democracy, ended in September with a bloodless military putsch.

Sixty per cent of the proceeds from the sale of this book will go to His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej's charities, the remainder to the FCCT's educational funds.

The Foreign Correspondents' Club of Thailand
Penthouse, Maneeya Center
518/5 Ploenchit Road
(connected to the BTS Skytrain Chitlom station)
Patumwan, Bangkok 10330

E-mail: info@fccthai.com
Phone: 02-652-0580-1

What's On?

The FCCT hosts a wide variety of programs. To view The Bulletin with a calendar of events at FCCT, click here.

To subscribe to the e-mail list for the weekly Bulletin, click here to send an e-mail request.

For Correspondents Only?

The FCCT is not just for correspondents-in fact, most of our members are not news people.

A past FCCT president even came up with the slogan, "You don't have to be foreign and you don't have to be a correspondent". We are a very diverse club and welcome all.

For more information, call 02-652-0580-1 or click here to e-mail info@fccthai.com

FCCT Programs

How do you keep up with all the great FCCT programs?

Join FCCT and receive e-mails whenever new programs are added. Because news changes fast, FCCT sometimes schedules timely programs on short notice.

FCCT members receive e-mails with "late-breaking news" about programs.

Friday Nights

You've had a tough week. Now all you want to do is relax. Listen to some music. Have a drink. You can do any or all of these in a great atmosphere with interesting company.

Where? You guessed it. The FCCT! For details, click on "Friday Nights" on the left hand menu.

Eating Out?

For Thai or Western Lunch or Dinner, we suggest the FCCT Clubhouse Restaurant high atop Maneeya Center. It's conveniently located and connected to the BTS Skytrain Chit Lom station by Skybridge.

Hours: Monday-Friday
12:00 noon-2:30pm,
6:00 pm-9:00pm