Festival runs July 9 – July 17

Film festival organizers, filmmakers and Maya
officials join the First Counseller for the EU in Thailand and the Deputy
Governor in toasting the opening of the event.

First Counseller for the EU Sandra De Waele is
joined by the Chiang Mai Deputy Governor and Honorary Consuls for the grand
opening of the EU Film Festival on July 8, 2016.
By Shana Kongmun
The grand opening of the EU Film Festival 2016 opened at the SFX
Cinema at Maya Lifestyle Mall on July 8, 2016 with the First Counseller for
the Delegation of the European Union in Thailand Sandra De Waele joining to
open the event. The opening ceremony was followed by the screening of the
German film 'The People VS Fritz Bauer' courtesy of the German Embassy in
Thailand and Goethe Institut Bangkok.

The EU was represented by Chiang Mai’s
diplomatic corps with French Honorary Consul Thomas Baude, German Honorary
Consul Hagen Dirksen, Swedish Honorary Consul Supajee Nilubol and Austrian
Honorary consul Nikolaus Prachensky at the opening ceremony.
The EU Film Festival is an annual and popular event in Chiang Mai with 16
movies from 13 EU countries being screened at the SFX Cinema theaters.
Tickets are 80 baht each and can be purchased at the theater or online. The
full schedule of films are also found on the SFX Cinema website
http://www.sfcinemacity.com/index.php/th/promotion-detail/European-Union-Film-Festival-2016-Showtime
All films are screened in their original languages with Thai and English
subtitles. The film festival runs through Sunday, July 17, 2016.
Four provinces featured in huge fair at International Convention Center

Minister to the Prime Minister’s Office M.L.
Panadda Diskul was joined by Canadian Ambassador Philip Calvert, Ambassador
Felix Boza, the Governors of Chiang Mai, Lampang, Lamphun and Mae Hong Son
and other dignitaries for the grand opening ceremony of the Lanna Expo 2016.
By Nopniwat Krailerg and Shana Kongmun
The Lanna Expo 2016 opened on June 30 and runs until July 6 at the Chiang
Mai International Convention Center and features products and services from
the four provinces of the Upper North Provincial Cluster 1; Mae Hong Son,
Lamphun, Lampang and Chiang Mai. The event was held under the concept of
Lanna Health and Wellness and featured not only traditional handicrafts but
spa and beauty supplies, a farmers market and more.

Minister to the Prime Minister’s Office M.L.
Panadda Diskul addressed the audience in both Thai and English, welcoming
everyone to the event.
Minister M.L. Panadda Diskul opened the event addressing the audience in
Thai before switching to English to welcome visiting Ambassadors H.E. Philip
Calvert of Canada and H. E. Mr. Felix Ricardo Americo Antonio Denegri Boza
along with Consuls General, Consuls, Honorary Consuls, Chiang Mai Governor
Pawin Chamniprasart, Maj. Gen. Kosol Prathumchart, the Governors of Mae Hong
Son, Lamphun and Lampang, President of the Provincial Administration
Organization Boonlert Buranupakorn and other dignitaries and visitors.

The opening ceremony included traditional
fingernail dances, creatures of the Himmapan forest, and more.
Minister M.L. Panadda Diskul said at the opening “Lanna Expo 2016 has helped
to showcase the culture and uniqueness of the Thai Northern region through
the products and services of Lanna Thai. It has also helped to stimulate the
local economy, create trade and investment linkages locally as well as
increase the potential and capabilities for the cluster to compete in both
the national and international markets.”
He added, “Lifting the local products and services into the world class
level by creating more trade and investment in the midst of strong
competition but more importantly the event will help the whole country
prosper.”

Honorary Peruvian Consul M.L. Preeyapun
Sridhavat welcomes Ambassador of Peru H.E. Mr. Felix Ricardo Americo Antonio
Denegri Boza to the Lanna Expo 2016.
The event, which also featured products from Myanmar and neighboring
countries, was held to link and expand trade and investment in the four
Northern provinces as well as promote the region to tourists through
visitors and media.
The event is divided into twelve zones; Medical & Wellness (spa, cosmetics,
and herbs business), Health Tourism (tour, hotel, accommodation, homestay,
and airline business), Northern Food valley (agriculture, agricultural, agro
processing, food), OTOP & SMEs (clothes, dress, apparels, home décor,
souvenirs, jewelry, furniture, life style products, and nonfood herbs), Art
& Culture Education and Wisdom Exhibitions, Investment (area provided for
business talk, product and Halal service), International (foreign
consulates), Export (export standard products and services), Conference
(educational conference), Innovation (research, technology, and innovation),
and Restaurant (food and drink shops). Additionally, mini concerts are
performed by famous artists every day.

Minister M.L. Panadda Diskul chats with Canadian
Ambassador Philip Calvert before the ceremony. He is joined here by
Ambassador of Peru H.E. Mr. Felix Boza, Chiang Mai Governor Pawin
Chamniprasart and his wife Monsuda.

Craftspeople from the four Northern provinces
have exhibition booths at the Lanna Expo 2016.

Silver jewelry from Baan Tawai was on sale along
with many other handcrafted jewelry shops.

Silks and cottons abound at the Lanna Expo 2016.

Local food is on sale along with restaurants and
farmers market stalls.

Contemporary handcrafted bags and other
contemporary items were in among the more traditional fare.