Amazing Stoner Movie Manifesto

What is a stoner movie?

This was the Golden Ganja question as we watched the exotic entries one after another. It’s not just the dude stuff or the trippy images with disassociated dialogue. It dawned on us that what makes a film a stoner movie is its sense of reality, a certain observational distance—Zen detachment. They don’t all show ganja on screen or even touch on weed culture, but they all have in common the state of being stoned.

The point being: If contemporary consensus reality with its abusive half-truths is clearly losing its mind, artists, filmmakers and cinephiles have the right—even the dharma—to subvert and shatter that cherished mirage.

All we weed is love.

Dr Alice Skinhead
programmer

Cinema Oasis Amazing Stoner Movie Fest

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Amazing Stoner Movie Fest #3

9 – 12 November 2023 at Cinema Oasis in Bangkok, Thailand

CALL FOR ENTRIES

Submission Deadline :  1 September 2023

Ganja was still illegal in Thailand when Foundation Cinema Oasis for freedom of cinematic expression held its first Amazing Stoner Movie Fest, 8 – 11 August 2019. Many people warned of dire consequences, but miraculously the police did not come and we did not get shut down (which wouldn’t have been the first time). We posted signs requesting people not to light up so all would go well. All did go well.

Then the worldwide COVID Lockdown, during which all cinemas had to close their doors, meant the 2^nd edition of the festival was postponed until 10 – 13 November 2022, by which time the Thai government under PM Prayudh ChanOcha had decriminalized ganja nationwide. 

In celebration of this stupendous news, in addition to the regular screenings inside the cinema, another screen was set up in the atrium and with the help of mats and bean bags, an open-air garden cinema was created, flanked by two premium weed stalls (the one under the Buddha Tree actually run by Sagar Singh Sivaraman, director of ‘30K An Ounce’, first winner of the Crystal Bong for Best Stoner Short Film). A very happy festival was enjoyed by all.

That atmosphere of freedom is unfortunately threatened by the results of recent general elections in Thailand, which was won by political parties that have vowed to recriminalize our sacred plant. A War on Drugs has also been promised by one of the parties that had once waged a War on Drugs that killed over 2,000 people in Thailand in 2004. The sense of uncertainty and dread have prompted well-wishers to warn that we should delay the next Amazing Stoner Movie Fest “until it is safe to do so.” 

How often have we followed such apparently sage advice, only to discover too late that we have merely given free rein to the oppressors of our freedom? It’s more important than ever to celebrate ganja as a sacred part of traditional Thai culture. We’re not going back into the closet.

This Call For Entries is therefore a Call To Arms.

In 2019, the Golden Ganja for Best Stoner Movie went to ‘SuperpsychoCebu’ by Filipino director Christian Linaban.

In 2022, Brazilian Kung Fu movie ‘The Smoke Master’ by directors Andre Sigwalt and Augusto Soares won the Golden Ganja, while ‘Face To Face’ by director Mahoukou Florent won the Crystal Bong.

Who will win the Golden Ganja and USD 1,000 at the 3^rd Amazing Stoner Movie Fest? Who will win the Crystal Bong and 5,000 Thai baht for Best Stoner Short Film? 

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The Golden Ganja award + 30,000 baht cash (1,000 usd)
The Crystal Bong + 5,000 baht cash (200 usd)
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Selected films will be screened at the Amazing Stoner Movie Contest November 9-12 when the winners will be announced.

9 – 12 November 2023

at Cinema Oasis in Bangkok, Thailand

Deadline 1 September 2023
.

We can’t wait to see your films!

Technical Information

Screening Format :  MP4 / Bluray / DVD / DCP/most other files, but sadly no 16 or 35mm film

Entry Fee: 500 baht/ 1 film

No need for an application form, but please include all practical information (filmmaker’s name, film title, length, format, contact info, brief synopsis).

Please send your screener to:

Cinema Oasis (Stoner Movie Contest)

4 Sukhumvit 43, Bangkok 10110

or Email : cinemaoasis.bk@gmail.com