The Bangkok International Film Festival is still on. Though the exact date has not been set, and despite hiccups caused by politics and bribery allegations, BIFF 2008 will likely take place in September.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand will sponsor the fest, but has turned the running of it over to the Federation of National Film Associations of Thailand and the Thai Film Directors Association.

They have named indie filmmaker Pimpaka Towira as programmer. She knows what she is in for, having organised the Bangkok Film Festival (not BIFF) in 2001 for The Nation.

Her first duty will be to represent the BIFF at the Cannes Film Festival. There should be some great films there.

She needs a man

Outspoken actress Bongkot "Tak" Kongmalai is now a producer, and her first project will be an erotic thriller, though it will surely pass the censors.

"I don't want to invest a lot of money. It'll be about Bt20 million for the production," she says.

She'll be the star, of course. The screenplay is finished and the shooting is to begin soon. Only problem is that Tak still needs a lead actor.  She's looking for a fair-skinned hunk, Indian or Nepalese, and he must be religious.

Tak is heading to Nepal to survey the location and search for Mr Right. If you're on the streets of Kathmandu, it might be you.