Luang Prabang will once again host its biennial film festival, previously known as the Luang Prabang Film Festival (LPFF), now rebranded as Blue Chair. With a rich history of connecting regional filmmakers, supporting the Lao domestic film industry, and presenting a free, curated selection of contemporary Southeast Asian film, Blue Chair has been a force in the region for more than 12 years.
This year’s festival is officially scheduled to take place from 5-9 December, across three different venues in the city. As is customary, the entire five-day event will be free-of-charge and completely open to the public for attendance, with the full program schedule to be available as a downloadable app for easy accessibility. In addition to the films presented, this year’s festival will include panels and discussions, live evening performances, as well as special screenings and discussions around these additions.
The visual theme of this year’s festival will feature the iconic gecko as a regional mascot, paying homage to the rich biodiversity of Laos.
Blue Chair Film Festival flyer 2024. (Supplied)
As always, official selections for the program were made by filmmakers and critics from across Southeast Asia and represent a curated selection of the finest contemporary films from their respective nations. This year, Blue Chair expects to showcase a slate of films from at least 10 of 11 regional countries, including Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines, Myanmar, Brunei, Singapore, Cambodia, Indonesia, and Malaysia. By working with regional expert curators with an inside understanding of their communities’ film scenes, Blue Chair presents a unique program that consistently delivers some of the strongest voices from across the region.
Once again, filmmakers will join in-person for the event. Blue Chair has become well-known as a unique forum for regional professionals to network internationally and exchange diverse ideas and experiences.
Founded in 2009, Blue Chair, originally known as the LPFF, is an annual celebration of Southeast Asian cinema held in Luang Prabang, Laos. This not-for-profit initiative promotes cross-cultural dialogue and supports the Lao film industry through cultural events, educational activities, and the Lao Filmmakers Fund, which offers grants to help Lao artists realize their film projects.
Among the festival’s supporters this year are The Asia Foundation, Heinrich Böll Stiftung Southeast Asia, Laos Buffalo Dairy, and EXO Travel. The event is produced in collaboration with the Luang Prabang Department of Culture, Information, and Tourism. Longtime hotel partners across Luang Prabang are also supporting the event, in addition to local businesses, community organizations and individual donors. Blue Chair is also a fiscally sponsored project of Film Independent, a US-based non-profit independent media arts organization.
https://www.tourismlaos.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/391661532_871958624485905_1744031077398232974_n-1.webp13652048Sylivanla Vongphachanhhttps://www.tourismlaos.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Lao-Simply-Beautiful-.webpSylivanla Vongphachanh2024-10-03 09:34:002025-03-28 22:55:33Blue Chair Film Festival Returns to Luang Prabang
On 23 August, a landmark organ transplant surgery was successfully carried out at Military Hospital 103 in Vientiane, Laos. This achievement was the result of a collaborative effort between Lao and Vietnamese surgeons, marking the progress in Laos’s healthcare and strengthening the bond between the two nations.
The surgery involved teams from Laos’s Military Hospital 103 and Vietnam’s Military Hospital 103.
Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence Chansamone Chanyalath expressed profound gratitude for this achievement. During a ceremony, he presented first, second, and third-class Labour Orders to units from the Vietnam Military Medical University (VMMU) in recognition of their contribution.
Savaengxay Dalasath, Director of Laos’s Military Hospital 103, noted that the Vietnamese specialist teams took the lead in overseeing the procedures, employing rigorous techniques to ensure the operations were successful.
The surgical team comprised nearly 100 Lao medical staff and 8 specialists from Vietnam. Out of three evaluated kidney donors, two were approved for donation.
This event follows another significant milestone achieved on 31 December, 2023, when Laos successfully performed its first two kidney transplants at the same Vientiane hospital.
Nguyen Xuan Kien, Director of the Vietnam Military Medical University, also highlighted the positive impact of this collaboration on the partnership between Lao and Vietnamese military hospitals. He emphasized that the successful surgeries would strengthen bilateral relations and improve future medical cooperation. In support of ongoing efforts, the Vietnamese delegation also donated 1,000 sets of patient clothing and various medical supplies to Laos’s Military Hospital.
https://www.tourismlaos.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-28-at-11.11.52-AM.jpeg6271200Sylivanla Vongphachanhhttps://www.tourismlaos.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Lao-Simply-Beautiful-.webpSylivanla Vongphachanh2024-10-01 09:30:002024-09-03 09:31:54Joint Organ Transplant Surgery Marks Milestone in Laos’s Healthcare
Cambodia is set to sign double taxation agreements (DTAs) with Laos and the Philippines, following the completion of essential technical procedures, according to Cambodian media.
During a workshop on the Exchange of Information on DTA agreements held on 27 August, Cambodian officials announced that the agreements with Laos and the Philippines are ready for formal signing. These DTAs are essential tools for avoiding double taxation, fostering international investment, and strengthening Cambodia’s economic position globally.
The DTA with Laos is expected to boost trade and investment between the neighboring countries. By creating a more favorable tax environment, the agreement could lead to increased economic activity and growth opportunities for businesses in both nations..
Cambodia also plans to expand its network of DTAs to include seven additional countries, such as Myanmar, France, Japan, Morocco, and the United Arab Emirates, building on its existing agreements with ten other countries.
According to Cambodian media, this expansion aligns with Cambodia’s broader strategy to enhance its appeal as a destination for foreign direct investment, by creating a more favorable and predictable tax environment.
Blue Chair Film Festival Returns to Luang Prabang
Luang Prabang will once again host its biennial film festival, previously known as the Luang Prabang Film Festival (LPFF), now rebranded as Blue Chair. With a rich history of connecting regional filmmakers, supporting the Lao domestic film industry, and presenting a free, curated selection of contemporary Southeast Asian film, Blue Chair has been a force in the region for more than 12 years.
This year’s festival is officially scheduled to take place from 5-9 December, across three different venues in the city. As is customary, the entire five-day event will be free-of-charge and completely open to the public for attendance, with the full program schedule to be available as a downloadable app for easy accessibility. In addition to the films presented, this year’s festival will include panels and discussions, live evening performances, as well as special screenings and discussions around these additions.
The visual theme of this year’s festival will feature the iconic gecko as a regional mascot, paying homage to the rich biodiversity of Laos.
As always, official selections for the program were made by filmmakers and critics from across Southeast Asia and represent a curated selection of the finest contemporary films from their respective nations. This year, Blue Chair expects to showcase a slate of films from at least 10 of 11 regional countries, including Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines, Myanmar, Brunei, Singapore, Cambodia, Indonesia, and Malaysia. By working with regional expert curators with an inside understanding of their communities’ film scenes, Blue Chair presents a unique program that consistently delivers some of the strongest voices from across the region.
Once again, filmmakers will join in-person for the event. Blue Chair has become well-known as a unique forum for regional professionals to network internationally and exchange diverse ideas and experiences.
Founded in 2009, Blue Chair, originally known as the LPFF, is an annual celebration of Southeast Asian cinema held in Luang Prabang, Laos. This not-for-profit initiative promotes cross-cultural dialogue and supports the Lao film industry through cultural events, educational activities, and the Lao Filmmakers Fund, which offers grants to help Lao artists realize their film projects.
Among the festival’s supporters this year are The Asia Foundation, Heinrich Böll Stiftung Southeast Asia, Laos Buffalo Dairy, and EXO Travel. The event is produced in collaboration with the Luang Prabang Department of Culture, Information, and Tourism. Longtime hotel partners across Luang Prabang are also supporting the event, in addition to local businesses, community organizations and individual donors. Blue Chair is also a fiscally sponsored project of Film Independent, a US-based non-profit independent media arts organization.
Source: https://laotiantimes.com/2024/08/30/blue-chair-film-festival-returns-to-luang-prabang/
Joint Organ Transplant Surgery Marks Milestone in Laos’s Healthcare
On 23 August, a landmark organ transplant surgery was successfully carried out at Military Hospital 103 in Vientiane, Laos. This achievement was the result of a collaborative effort between Lao and Vietnamese surgeons, marking the progress in Laos’s healthcare and strengthening the bond between the two nations.
The surgery involved teams from Laos’s Military Hospital 103 and Vietnam’s Military Hospital 103.
Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence Chansamone Chanyalath expressed profound gratitude for this achievement. During a ceremony, he presented first, second, and third-class Labour Orders to units from the Vietnam Military Medical University (VMMU) in recognition of their contribution.
Savaengxay Dalasath, Director of Laos’s Military Hospital 103, noted that the Vietnamese specialist teams took the lead in overseeing the procedures, employing rigorous techniques to ensure the operations were successful.
The surgical team comprised nearly 100 Lao medical staff and 8 specialists from Vietnam. Out of three evaluated kidney donors, two were approved for donation.
This event follows another significant milestone achieved on 31 December, 2023, when Laos successfully performed its first two kidney transplants at the same Vientiane hospital.
Nguyen Xuan Kien, Director of the Vietnam Military Medical University, also highlighted the positive impact of this collaboration on the partnership between Lao and Vietnamese military hospitals. He emphasized that the successful surgeries would strengthen bilateral relations and improve future medical cooperation. In support of ongoing efforts, the Vietnamese delegation also donated 1,000 sets of patient clothing and various medical supplies to Laos’s Military Hospital.
Source: https://laotiantimes.com/2024/08/29/joint-organ-transplant-surgery-marks-milestone-in-laoss-healthcare/
Cambodia to Sign Double Taxation Agreements with Laos, Philippines
Cambodia is set to sign double taxation agreements (DTAs) with Laos and the Philippines, following the completion of essential technical procedures, according to Cambodian media.
During a workshop on the Exchange of Information on DTA agreements held on 27 August, Cambodian officials announced that the agreements with Laos and the Philippines are ready for formal signing. These DTAs are essential tools for avoiding double taxation, fostering international investment, and strengthening Cambodia’s economic position globally.
The DTA with Laos is expected to boost trade and investment between the neighboring countries. By creating a more favorable tax environment, the agreement could lead to increased economic activity and growth opportunities for businesses in both nations..
Cambodia also plans to expand its network of DTAs to include seven additional countries, such as Myanmar, France, Japan, Morocco, and the United Arab Emirates, building on its existing agreements with ten other countries.
According to Cambodian media, this expansion aligns with Cambodia’s broader strategy to enhance its appeal as a destination for foreign direct investment, by creating a more favorable and predictable tax environment.
Source: https://laotiantimes.com/2024/08/29/cambodia-to-sign-double-taxation-agreements-with-laos-philippines/