PURIN PICTURES RAMPS UP
ACTIVITIES IN BUSAN

October 14, 2017 - BANGKOK

Bangkok-based film fund Purin Pictures is arriving at this year’s Busan Film Festival with its hands full.  Its first supported film, Mouly Surya’s revenge drama Marlina the Murderer in Four Acts, is making its Asian premiere after a successful bow at Cannes. The fund will also be active at the Asian Project Market (APM) vetting Southeast Asian projects as well as the newly established Platform Busan, where it is sponsoring five recent graduates from Bangkok area film schools to attend. 

Founded in early 2017 by filmmakers Visra Vichit-Vadakan and Anocha Suwichakornpong, Purin’s mission is to support Southeast Asian cinema.  Says Vichit-Vadakan, “Being involved in the independent film scene for quite some time, it’s become clear that Southeast Asian filmmakers are not receiving adequate governmental support. We established this fund to lend a hand where it’s needed most”. Adds Suwichakornpong, “We not only provide grants for films, but also for other initiatives within the cinema scene such as festivals, educational initiatives, or alternative screening spaces.  What we look for is an independent spirit.”  In July, film director and producer Aditya Assarat joined the Purin team as a co-director. “Having been the recipient of well-known funds such as the Asian Cinema Fund (ACF) and the Hubert Bals Fund (HBF), it’s quite a privilege for me to be sitting on the other side of the table now.  There’s so much talent in our region and hopefully I can use my experience to make sure the right people are connected to the support they deserve.” 

Besides Marlina the Murderer in Four Acts, Purin has also gotten behind the new projects from a trio of talented Thai filmmakers currently in various stages of production: Die Tomorrow by Nawapol Thamrongrattanarit, Manta Ray by Phuttipong Aroonpheng, and Doi Boy by Nontawat Numbenchapol.  Moving forward, the fund is aiming to support 8-10 films per year.