ASEAN-UN Office in Geneva Heads at the 2017 ASEAN Film Festival Opening Ceremony: (From left) H.E. Ney Samol, Permanent Representative of Cambodia; Charge d’Affaires, a.i. (CDA) and Minister Counsellor Mr. Muhammad Takdri of Indonesia; CDA and Deputy Permanent Representative (DPR) Mr. Ko Ko Shein of Myanmar, CDA and DPR Ms. Le Duc Hanh of Viet Nam, UNOG Director General Michael Moller, H.E. Evan P. Garcia, Permanent Representative of the Philippines; H.E. Amran Mohamed Zin, Permanent Representative of Malaysia; H.E. Khan-inh Khitchadeth, Permanent Representative of Lao PDR; H.E. Sek Wannamethee, Permanent Representative of Thailand; H.E. Foo Kok Jwee, Permanent Representative of Singapore; and, CDA and Second Secretary Mr. Victor Cheong of Brunei.
29 March 2017 GENEVA, SWITZERLAND – The 2017 Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Film Festival, organized by the ASEAN Committee in Geneva (ACG), began at the cinema (Room XIV) of the Palais des nations on March 27.
The 10 Permanent Representatives (PRs) and/or Charge d’Affaires, a.i. (CDA) of the ASEAN Permanent Missions in Geneva graced the opening ceremony with special guest, H.E. Michael Møller, Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG), who was at the opening reception.
“On behalf of the ASEAN Committee in Geneva, I am proud to present to you a glimpse into our region’s cinematic landscape through the ASEAN Film Festival, a two-week event that will feature ten award-winning films as part of our 50th anniversary activities,” said Ambassador Evan Garcia, Permanent Representative of the Philippine Mission to the United Nations and Other International Organizations in Geneva and Chair of the ASEAN Committee in Geneva for 2017.
“As the Philippines chairs ASEAN this year guided by the theme of “Partnering for Change, Engaging the World,” we hope to emphasize the region’s positive contribution to each member-state and to the larger international community,” he added.
A reception was held prior to the opening ceremony, which was attended by Permanent Missions and Observer Missions in Geneva, UN officials and personnel as well as members of the media.
The ten films from each of the ten members of the ASEAN will be screened at 12:30 p.m. every day until April 07 (except Saturday and Sunday).
Due to limited seating, those who do not hold a UN ground badge are kindly requested to register at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. indicating the movies they would like to attend 48 hours before the screening. They are requested to bring photo identification upon entry at the Palais des Nations. Entry is through the Pregny Gate. END
Ambassador Evan P. Garcia (center) delivers the opening remarks during the opening of the 2017 ASEAN Film Festival at the Palais des Nations, Geneva, Switzerland.