사회주의 영화에서 크라우드펀딩까지 - 라오스 영화 산업의 새로운 흐름-

By examining the history of filmmaking in Laos from a media history perspective, this study explores how filmmaking in Laos has developed in response to social changes and film industry promotion policies, and how new generations are creating a new filmmaking culture through the use of new media. Although filmmaking in Laos used to be almost non-existent ever since the country’s communization, starting in 2008, the Lao film industry entered a new era. Ever since then, the government sought to foster its own film industry using its neighboring country Thailand, which has long had a strong economic, social, and cultural influence on Laos, as both a model and a stepping stone. This new era of the Lao film and video industry has been led by a new wave of expatriate directors and youth-oriented productions. Since the film market in Laos is very small, a unique filmmaking model is being tried out. One example of this is commercial dramas commissioned by a single advertiser and delivered through social media platforms. The practice of crowdfunding, where all the footage of a previously debuted film is made available in order to fund the next film, is another new aspect of the Lao film industry. In addition to these initiatives, various film festivals are held to promote the film industry by giving the Lao people with limited access to cinemas the opportunity to watch films and to give budding filmmakers the chance to showcase their work. This study contributes to the understanding of film production and industry trends in Laos and can be used as a foundation for future research on the history of media in Laos. It is significant in that it attempts to shed light on an aspect of Lao popular culture that has so far received little attention.