Editor

Organizers of the Phuket Film Festival shut down the Festival just two weeks from its June 4 - 11 run date.

We reproduce below the sad message from the festival organizers

"We sincerely apologize to our partners, our participating film makers and those on Phuket who were helping to make this international event happen," said Scott Rosenberg festival organizer. "But with creation of an armed state on Phuket for protection of the ASEAN meeting which will take place days after the Festival is to end, we found that the "sanook" (fun) we had promised folks, was gone from the Festival."

Festival organizers are also concerned about reports that foreigners on the island are booking vacations off the island during this period to avoid being inconvenienced by road blocks, traffic jams, etc. Also, police have been warning guest houses and hotels about bookings from Northern Thailand (afraid that dissident "red shirts" will travel to disrupt meeting).

"If people from Bangkok cannot travel down to catch our movies and events and foreigners who are our target audience on the island are fleeing during this time period - there goes our box-office take which helps subsidize the Festival," commented Mr. Rosenberg.

The Festival which was to play 30 award winning films from 13 different countries, was set to host over 30 film makers, producers and sales agents from around the world including Academy Award winning actor Adrien Brody ("The Pianist", "King Kong"), acclaimed director Gus Van Sant ("Milk", "Good Will Hunting"), and Directors Guild of America nominated director Darnell Martin ("Cadillac Records", "Their Eyes Were Watching God").

"We're saddened that this event which was growing in stature in the world of film festivals was not given the attention necessary by the Thai government to carry on in a manner which would have showcased the Phuket region as a prime location destination for filming," said Mr. Rosenberg.

"While the government has said that a curfew would not be put in place, the Army is reportedly sending an additional 5,000 troops to the island to secure a peaceful meeting. We just cannot take the chance," Mr. Rosenberg continued. "Filmmakers view the world in terms of images: we don't want them walking away from the Phuket Film Festival with memories of armed soldiers and tanks-no matter what the reason.

That is NOT how we want people to remember Amazing Thailand."