The 2006 Bangkok International Film Festival was held from February 17 to February 27. The festival's events were held in the newly opened Siam Paragon, the first time all the festival's screenings, sidebar events, activities and film market were gathered under one roof.
The festival opened with the Asian premiere of Pen-Ek Ratanaruang's Invisible Waves. The closing film was Rent by Chris Columbus.
Celebrity highlights included director Terry Gilliam giving a master class, actor Christopher Lee giving a talk and introducing a screening of The Man with the Golden Gun, as well as appearances by Catherine Deneuve, Willem Dafoe, Tadanobu Asano, Rita Moreno, Rufus Sewell, director Oliver Stone and cinematographer Christopher Doyle.
Water, directed by Deepa MehtaThe Consequences of Love, directed by Palo SorrentinoThe House of Sand, directed by Andrucha WaddingtonInvisible Waves, directed by Pen-Ek RatanaruangIstanbul Tales, directed by Umit Unal, Kudret Sabanci, Elim Demirdelen, Yucel Yolcu and Omur AtayMrs. Henderson Presents, directed by Stephen FrearsRingfinger, directed by Diane BertrandRiver Queen, directed by Vincent WardSympathy for Lady Vengeance by Park Chan-wookTransamerica, directed by Duncan TuckerTsotsi, directed by Gavin HoodThe White Masai, directed by Hermine HuntgeburthPark Chan-Wook, Sympathy for Lady VengeancePresley Chweneyagae, TsotsiFelicity Huffman, TransamericaBride of Silence, directed by Đoàn Minh Phượng and Doàn Thanh Nghia3 Friends, directed by Mingmongkol Sonakul, Pumin Chinaradee and Aditya AssaratAhimsa: Stop to Run, directed by Kittikorn LaiwsirikunThe Burnt Theater, directed by Rithy PanhGie, directed by Riri RizaGoalposts & Lipsticks, directed by Bernard ChaulyThe Gravel Road, directed by Deepak Kumaran MenonJanji Joni, directed by Joko AnwarJourney from the Fall, directed by Ham TranMagdalena: The Unholy Saint, directed by Laurice GuillenThe Masseur, directed by Brillante MendozaMonday Morning Glory, directed by Woo Ming JinThe Tin Mine, directed by Jira MaligoolUnarmed Combat, directed by Han Yew KwangKept and Dreamless, directed by Vera Fogwill and Martin DesalvoA Common Thread, directed by Eléonore FaucherDreaming Lhasa, directed by Ritu Sarin and Tenzing SonamGo West, directed by Ahmed ImamovicThe Intruder, directed by Frank Van MechelenKissed By Winter, directed by Sara JohnsenThe Married Woman, directed by Pradeep SarkarMilarepa: Revenge, directed by Neten ChoklingOn My Skin, directed by Valerio JalongoParzania, directed by Rahul DholakiaReaching Silence, directed by Jahar KanungoRyna, directed by Ruxandra ZenideThe Sacred Family, directed by Sebastián Campos WattSeason of the Horse, directed by Ning CaiSophie Scholl – The Final Days, directed by Marc RothemundStoned!, directed by Steven WoolleyThree Dots, directed by Roya SadatRize, directed by David LaChapelleHonorable mention - Ballets Russes, directed by Dayna Goldfine and Dan GellerHonorable mention - In the Shadow of the Palms, directed by Wayne Coles-JanessAfrica United, directed by Ólaf JóhannessonBefore the Flood, directed by Li Yifan and Yan YuCrossing the Bridge: The Sound of Istanbul, directed by Fatih AkınLinda & Ali, Two Worlds Within Four Walls, directed by Lut VandekeybusNice Hat! 5 Enigmas in the Life of Cambodia, directed by David BrisbinSwitch Off (Apaga y vámonos), directed by Manel MayolThe Art of Flight, directed by Davin Anders HutchinsThe Giant Buddhas, directed by Christian FreiThe Stories from the North, directed by Uruphong RaksasadVajra Sky Over Tibet, directed by John BushJameson Best Asian Short Film – Under Construction, directed by Lee Hyung-SukJameson People's Choice Award – Art of the Devil 2, directed by Kongkiat Khomsiri, Art Thamthrakul, Yosapong Polsap, Putipong Saisikaew, Isara Nadee, Pasith Buranajan and Seree PongnitiJury Mention – Istanbul Tales, directed by Umit Unal, Kudret Sabanci, Elim Demirdelen, Yucel Yolcu and Omur AtayAward for Outstanding Contribution to the Promotion of Asian Cinema – Wouter Barendrecht and Michael J. Werner of Fortissimo Films.Crystal Lens Award – Anthony Dod MantleCareer Achievement Award – Catherine DeneuveLifetime Achievement Award – Sombat MetaneeAhead of the 2006 festival, Somsak Techaratanaprasert, the president of the Federation of National Film Associations of Thailand, called for a boycott of the festival by group members, because festival organizers, the Tourism Authority of Thailand, had not included Federation in the film-selection process and marketing plans for the festival, as it had in past years. Member film studios Five Star Production, GTH and RS Promotion did not agree with the boycott, which led to Somsak, also the chief executive of Sahamongkol Film International, to resign as chairman of the Federation. But as a result of the boycott, some films produced or distributed by Sahamongkol were pulled from the festival program.
