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Community Screenings
As a part of the 2023 Lao Filmmakers Fund program, Blue Chair is hosting a series of free community screenings around Laos, featuring work supported by the fund in previous years.
Blue Chair will present short films from the Lao Filmmakers Fund at the Nyot Ou Tea Festival. The festival brings together tea producers in Nyot Ou for a celebration of tea and cultural activities including screenings of youth-produced work from Phongsaly.
Special thanks to the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation for supporting Lao Filmmakers Fund screenings across Laos.
Short Films from the Lao Filmmakers Fund
Saturday evening program
“Time Missing”
Directed by Ting Veu, “Time Missing” portrays the triumphs of a teenage girl who accidentally becomes pregnant.
In Hmong with Lao and English subtitles.
“Story of Na”
Directed by Soukthavone Thanomenon. A young girl finds herself at the center of a social media firestorm after her actions are misunderstood.
In Lao with English subtitles
“In the Shadows”
Directed by Xam Keodoungdy, “In the Shadows” follows a shadow puppet show troop in southern Laos as they perform this traditional art form.
In Lao with English subtitles
“Melody of Change”
Directed by Ka Xiong. A mysterious woman travels through a remote village in Northern Laos, and uses music to bring together the divided Khmu and Hmong communities. Local musicians using traditional instruments and melodies created the original soundtrack.
In Lao with English subtitles
“Silent Compassion” Music video from the feature film, Absence of Sound
In Lao with English subtitles
Join us for an evening of family fun with Lao movies in Savannakhet. Phonevilai Nammavongsa will host a free evening of Lao films and a special dance performance, starting at 6 PM.
All films are in Lao language with English subtitles.
Line Up
18:00 Welcome
18:15 Dance performance by M-Frolic Academy
18:30 Short film: “The Blanket”
18:45 Short film: “Story of Na”
19:00 Feature film: Absence of Sound
“The Blanket”
Directed by Mitpasa Sitthihackpanya
A young boy from a rural Lao village becomes responsible for his younger siblings and mother, when his father goes off to the city in search of work.
“Story of Na”
Directed by Soukthavone Thanomenon
A young girl finds herself at the center of a social media firestorm after her actions are misunderstood.
Absence of Sound
Directed by Sonesapith Phanphila
Set in Luang Prabang, Noiy, a deaf boy struggling to survive on his own, takes refuge in a small school where he learns with other deaf children — and befriends Jane, whose parents do not want her to socialize with the deaf children at the school. When the two find themselves in serious trouble, Jane’s father blames Noiy and threatens the school itself.
Special thanks to the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation and the Office of the Embassy of Canada to Laos for supporting Lao movie night in Savannakhet.
Documentaries
17 August and 7 September
Five short documentaries showcase traditional arts in the south of Laos (mor lam music, stone carving, and shadow puppetry), traditional ways of life in a Katu village and the production of khai phaen, a river weed snack from Luang Prabang.
- “The Apprentice Singer”
Directed by Xam Keo Douangdy - “Stone Buddha Statues”
Directed by Xam Keo Douangdy - “In the Shadows”
Directed by Xam Keo Douangdy - “The Mind”
Directed by Chansamai Phanouvong - “Souvenir from Luang Prabang”
Directed by Khamla Lao
The films are in Lao with English subtitles.
Special thanks to the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, the Canadian Embassy in Laos, and Big Tree.
Fiction Films Part 2
10 August and 31 August
Four short films tell imagined stories in present-day Laos, touching on the challenges of balancing duty, aspiration, and modern life.
- “Time Missing”
Directed by Ting Veu - “Our Secret is Blue”
Directed by Lathsamee Thammavong - “Story of Na”
Directed by Soukthavone Thanomnon - “The Boy”
Directed by Thanouphet Onmavong
“Time Missing” is in Hmong with Lao and English subtitles; all other films are in Lao with English subtitles.
Special thanks to the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, the Canadian Embassy in Laos, and Big Tree.
Join us for free screenings of Lao short films supported by the Lao Filmmakers Fund
Fiction Films Part 1
Three short films set in present-day Laos explore themes of unconditional love, friendship, and harmony.
- “The Blanket”
Directed by Mitpasa Sitthihakpanya - “Let’s Love”
Directed by Dorn Bouttasing - “Fly Sandy Fly”
Directed by Phanumud Disattha - “Melody of Change”
Directed by Ka Xiong
(this selection will screen again on 24 August)
Documentaries
17 August and 7 September
Five short documentaries showcase traditional arts in the south of Laos (mor lam music, stone carving, and shadow puppetry), traditional ways of life in a Katu village and the production of khai phaen, a river weed snack from Luang Prabang.
- “The Apprentice Singer”
Directed by Xam Keo Douangdy - “Stone Buddha Statues”
Directed by Xam Keo Douangdy - “In the Shadows”
Directed by Xam Keo Douangdy - “The Mind”
Directed by Chansamai Phanouvong - “Souvenir from Luang Prabang”
Directed by Khamla Lao
The films are in Lao with English subtitles.
Special thanks to the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, the Canadian Embassy in Laos, and Big Tree.
Fiction Films Part 2
10 August and 31 August
Four short films tell imagined stories in present-day Laos, touching on the challenges of balancing duty, aspiration, and modern life.
- “Time Missing”
Directed by Ting Veu - “Our Secret is Blue”
Directed by Lathsamee Thammavong - “Story of Na”
Directed by Soukthavone Thanomnon - “The Boy”
Directed by Thanouphet Onmavong
“Time Missing” is in Hmong with Lao and English subtitles; all other films are in Lao with English subtitles.
Special thanks to the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, the Canadian Embassy in Laos, and Big Tree.
Join us for free screenings of Lao short films supported by the Lao Filmmakers Fund
Fiction Films Part 1
Three short films set in present-day Laos explore themes of unconditional love, friendship, and harmony.
- “The Blanket”
Directed by Mitpasa Sitthihakpanya - “Let’s Love”
Directed by Dorn Bouttasing - “Fly Sandy Fly”
Directed by Phanumud Disattha - “Melody of Change”
Directed by Ka Xiong
(this selection will screen again on 24 August)
A selection of work supported by the Lao Filmmakers Fund, showing @ My Library.
Absence of Sound, a feature length film, directed by Sonepasith Phanphila, tells the story of Noiy, a deaf boy struggling to survive on his own in Luang Prabang. He takes refuge in a small school where he learns with other deaf children — and befriends Jane, whose parents do not want her to socialize with the deaf children at the school. When the two find themselves in serious trouble, Jane’s father blames Noiy and threatens the school itself.
Shot entirely in Luang Prabang, Absence of Sound premiered at Blue Chair in December 2022. The film is one of seven films supported by the Lao Filmmakers Fund in the 2020 round of funding.
Language: Lao with English Subtitles
Running Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Doors open at 7 PM
Director talk at 7:30 PM
Film at 8 PM