Pen-ek Ratanaruang's highly-anticipated noir thriller Invisible Waves kicks off the 4thBangkok International Film Festival today. The Thai director, along with actor AsanoTadanobu, cinematographer Christopher Doyle and co-producer MingmongkolSonakul,are expected to reach the Thai capital in time for the red-carpet opening nightafter premiering the film in Berlin three days ago.

The festival is now underway with thesupport of local Thai producers and distributors after the boycott from the Federationof the National Film Association of Thailand (FNFAT) failed. When severalmember companies chose to leave the FNFAT to back the festival, Sahamongkolfilm chief Somsak Techaratanaprasert, who holds the festival organizersresponsible for the dissension, stepped down as FNFAT president, a post he heldsince 2004.

'We just want to work with everybody. Wearen't involved in local politics,' says BKKIFF executive director Craig Praterwhen asked about the boycott.

While Thai films are making their mark onthe international festival scene - InvisibleWaves is the first Thai film in Competition at Berlin for 25years, BKKIFF this year is giving more emphasis to Thai cinema with a strongerline-up of films.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) isalso hosting a special reception to give international media, foreign buyersand sellers the opportunity to meet Thai film-makers. Nine Thai companies, GMMTai Hub, Five Star, RS Films, Right Beyond, Kantana,CM Film, Mono Film, Prommitr Productions and 20 June,will be introduced at the reception on Monday.