Wednesday, 1 July, 2009, 7:30 pm
The Ultimate Wine Evening
An introduction to six wines from three top Thai wine-producers from Khao Yai, plus the announcement of their up-coming Wine-Tour, in July.

Thursday, 2 July, 8:00 pm
Utopia Blues (Switzerland)
Directed by Stefan Haupt, who will be present for a Q&A Screening Courtesy: Stefan Haupt With the support of the Embassy of Switzerland, who will serve wine

Thursday, 9 July, 8.00 pm
Jay (Phillippines)
Directed by Francis Xavier Pasion Screening Courtesy - Francis Xavier Pasion With the support of the Embassy of the Philippines, who will serve a Filipino buffet-dinner.

Thai Correspondent, The Associated Press


Country Manager Thailand, Asia City Publishing (Thailand)


Driver Wanted for Foreign News Organisation


Come to the Friday Wake at FCCT Dateline Bar. Special drinks every Friday from 6pm-7pm.

Click here to read the current Bulletin, with full details of all events. To subscribe to the e-mail list for the weekly Bulletin, click here to send an e-mail request

In keeping with tradition, the FCCT has over the years, hosted successive Thai Prime Ministers for key policy speeches. On January 14, H.E. Abhisit Vejjajiva, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand, addressed the Club and guests on the topic, "Restoring Confidence and Moving Thailand Forward". The speech took place in the InterContinental Hotel with more than 500 people in attendance.

The Prime Minister pledged to restore the rule of law, and vowed to be non-partisan and work to reconcile Thailand's deep political divisions. In his first address to the foreign media, the Eton- and Oxford-educated Abhisit, who has been officially in the premier's position since January 5, 2009 said: 'There is no doubt that the No. 1 priority is to get the system to work again and, although it hasn't been a smooth ride, at least the last couple of weeks has seen the return of normalcy in this country and in the political system.' But he said returning to complete normalcy needed a 'grand plan for reconciliation' and his basic assumption was that 'you will never get reconciliation unless there is justice'.

Professor José Ramos-Horta, a 1996 Nobel Laureate for Peace and one of the most extraordinary leaders of our region and our time, addressed the FCCT on January 11 as part of the International Peace Foundation's "Bridges" series:
http://peace-foundation.net .

He is a former Permanent Representative to the United Nations, a former Minister of Foreign Affairs, a former Prime Minister and currently the President of East Timor, one of the youngest independent countries in the world. He was appointed acting Prime Minister by President Xanana Gusmao in June 2006. In February 2008, he was shot in an assassination attempt. He has been active in the pursuit of peace, freedom and democracy in his own country and across the world.

Mr. Ramos-Horta won the 1996 Nobel Peace Prize for his campaign for East Timor's independence from Indonesia. East Timor's vote for independence in 1999 was marred by violence led by pro-Indonesia militias. The fighting resulted in hundreds of deaths and in the deployment of peace keepers into East Timor. A 2,500-strong international security force, mostly Australians, remains in the country today.

On January 13, FCCT members and guests had a unique opportunity to hear all about the exhilaration of space travel first hand from NASA Mission Specialist Nicholas Patrick, who will be aboard the space shuttle Endeavour for mission STS-130 when it blasts off in December. Endeavour will deliver a third connecting module to the International Space Station and a seven-windowed cupola to be used as a control room for robotics. The mission will also install research and science experiment equipment, a new sleeping area, and re-supply the station using a special logistics module stored in the payload bay.

This will be Patrick's second mission into space as he also served as a mission specialist aboard STS-116 in 2006, logging 308 hours in the near heavens. Patrick reported to NASA's Johnson Space Center for astronaut training in August 1998. Patrick was born in North Yorkshire in the United Kingdom in 1964 and became a US citizen in 1994.

The FCCT's successful publishing project, The King of Thailand in World Focus, a 280-page collation of articles and photographs covering the life and reign of HM King Bhumibol Adjuladej, Rama IX, is back in the shops after selling out last year.

The third edition is more than a reprint, and includes 20 extra pages covering the king's 80th birthday celebrations, the death of his older sister, HRH Princess Galyani Vadhana, some of the recent political turmoil, and an extended profile of the Crown Property Bureau. There is also a transcript of the remarkable comments made at last year’s launch at The Oriental by former prime minister Anand Panyarchun regarding the past, present and future of the Thai monarchy.

The King of Thailand in World Focus is the only comprehensive reference work on the current reign as reported over the years by correspondents, journalists and photographers working for the overseas media.

Although the latest edition is better and larger, the price remains the same. It is available from Asiabooks, Kinokuniya, B2S, Chulalongkorn University's Chulabooks at only 1,450 baht.

Club members can do even better and buy up to three copies each for 1,200 baht apiece from the FCCT office. There are also special discounts for bulk purchases of over 25 copies. Hurry while stocks last.

As part of our expanded cultural offerings, we present a film series on contemporary world cinema, with showings about twice a month. Thanks to the efforts of FCCT member Lekha Shankar and the cooperation of 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.

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

Kongdej Jaturanrasamee (above), Thailand's best-known and most in-demand script-writer, visited the FCCT to present his film 'Cherm', which won the Critics Prize at the Deauville Asian Festival. He talked about his experiences as a scriptwriter and director. The talented director is noted for movies including 'Sayew' (which he directed), 'Me ... Myself', 'Tom Yum Goong', and 'Handle Me with Care' (which he wrote). His films have won acclaim at film festivals around the world. Kongdej described film-writing as an enjoyable 'therapy' for him. The articulate director was accompanied by Panu Aree, from the Thailand's best-known production house, Sahamongkol Film International Co. Ltd.

  

Pornwut Sarasin (above right and left photos),Vice-Chairman of Thainamthip Ltd, Coca-Cola Company's bottler in Thailand, visited the FCCT to present 'Ploy', directed by acclaimed indie director, Penek Rattanaruang, that was premiered at the prestigious Cannes International Film Festival and went pn to many other international festivals. Sarasin made his movie debut in the film, by playing the lead. The senior executive said it would probably be his last film! He complimented the Club on the 'high quality' of movies being shown in the Contemporary World Cinema series, and looked forward to seeing some of them. Coca-Cola is a Major Sponsor of the 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.