Bangkok's Art and Film Scene Gets Quirky
This week in Bangkok, a mushroom-themed art exhibition and a student-organized documentary festival are among the cultural highlights featured by Time Out. In a surprise event, UK rapper Central Cee also performed a pre-show set in the city.
The "Have You Seen Documentary Film Festival" was started by four final-year students from Srinakharinwirot University as a non-profit thesis project to make documentaries more accessible to the public. The festival includes Q&A sessions with filmmakers, aiming to build a bridge between creators and their audience. This year's event on March 21 at Cinema Oasis is free and features films like "Scala," a tribute to Bangkok's last standalone cinema. London-based rapper Central Cee's main performances are part of his "CAN'T RUSH GREATNESS WORLD TOUR – Asia 2026," with sold-out shows at the UOB LIVE venue on March 20 and 21. Ahead of the main concerts, he scheduled three intimate pre-show performances at smaller Bangkok clubs: P!NK Bangkok, SALONE DI VITA, and BACCARAT, creating significant buzz. The Thai rice export market, a key economic driver, is facing headwinds. Projections for 2026 estimate exports at a five-year low of around 7 million tonnes, down from 7.9 million in 2025, due to a strengthening baht and fierce price competition from India and Vietnam. The appreciating currency makes Thai rice, including its premium Hom Mali variety, more expensive than competitor grains. In response to market pressures, there's a growing focus on premium and niche rice segments. Organic rice, in particular, is a rapidly expanding market, with global sales projected to grow significantly. Thai exporters like CP Intertrade have seen a 20% growth in organic rice shipments to European markets, capitalizing on the demand for sustainably sourced products. Trade agreements and international regulations are shaping the landscape for Thai rice exporters. The ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) provides a framework for regional trade, while new European Union import rules are being consolidated, affecting all exporters. Concurrently, the EU is considering safeguard tariffs on Asian rice to protect its own producers, which could impact Thai exporters. Recent trade deals highlight the shifting dynamics in the Asia-Pacific region. Thailand has signed government-to-government agreements, such as a five-year memorandum of cooperation to sell up to 100,000 tonnes of rice to Singapore, bolstering regional food security. Meanwhile, a new trade agreement between the US and Japan could potentially reduce Thailand's rice quota in the Japanese market.
