Marisa Marchitelli: Filmmaker and Writer

Marisa Marchitelli

Marisa Marchitelli is a Thai-Italian-American filmmaker, writer and travel specialist based in Chiang Mai. With a background in visual media and storytelling, she curates bespoke travel experiences that blend culture, crafts, food and local insight. Her writing and photography explore the hidden corners of Northern Thailand, often focusing on disappearing traditions, environmental issues and everyday beauty. She co-founded the Chiang Mai Filmmaker’s Collective and serves on the board of Urban Light, aligning her creative work with a commitment to ethical storytelling and community impact.

Articles (26)

Got 3 days? Chiang Rai is worth every one of them

Chiang Rai is often reduced to a quick temple stop from Chiang Mai. Stay a little longer and the province reveals something much more compelling. This is one of Thailand’s most agricultural regions, where rice fields stretch across broad valleys, tea plantations climb the hillsides and small hilltribe villages sit between long mountain ridges. It’s expansive, lightly populated and best explored by car. That connection to the land feeds directly into the food. Chefs here are working with an exceptional range of local ingredients, from rare mountain herbs and fermented vegetables to forest produce and tea grown just down the road. The result is a foodie scene that feels grounded, inventive and increasingly worth the drive. Add to that pottery studios, tea houses and riverside cafes spread across the countryside and it’s pretty clear that Chiang Rai rewards those willing to take their time. And with time in mind, here’s how to spend a long weekend discovering a different side to the province of the city of kings.

Thailand’s top 6 getaways this March

March brings a livelier energy to Thailand’s getaway scene, with food, wine and travel experiences worth planning around. Khao Yai leads with two distinctive reasons to leave the city - the once-a-month forest bar K-BAR at Khao Yai Art Forest and GranMonte’s hands-on harvest season among the vines. Phuket draws attention with a one-night chef collaboration at Aulis and crispy Peking duck Fridays at Yue Restaurant & Bar, while Le Méridien Chiang Rai tempts travellers with early-booking travel fair deals. For something more romantic, Silavadee Pool Spa Resort in Koh Samui offers private pool villas and honeymoon indulgence by the sea. If you’re looking for an excuse to travel this month, these are the getaways worth planning around.

Car culture events to check out in Bangkok this March

If your feed lately has been filled with beautiful cars, it’s not a coincidence. March in Bangkok is stacked with car culture events, from relaxed morning meetups with coffee to full-scale national showcases featuring major automotive brands. This list draws from the Monthly Bangkok Car Events Calendar, compiled with support from Alla Meller and JB Photographer, who regularly track and update car gatherings across the city. Judging by how packed March already is, Bangkok’s car scene is clearly heating up. Right now it’s one of the most active communities in the city, easily rivaling the energy of the live music scene. Whether you’re a driver, a tuner or just someone who enjoys looking at great cars, it’s time to clear some space on your calendar.

12 ways to do Valentine’s differently in Chiang Mai

Valentine’s in Chiang Mai has never been a one-size bouquet. While some dates demand the best in fine dining, the rest of the city (and those who look to be impressed) are turning eyes toward things like tarot readings, cross-cultural performances and – for those of us who are still single – a few delightfully odd ways to meet a stranger. Jing Jai Market opens the Valentine’s season with outdoor movies and craft workshops under the trees, setting the tone for a week that skips the usual cliches. Lobbyist at Nimman Mai? Design Hotel pairs cocktails with love readings, Kalm Village hosts a music and Hmong textile night and the Museum of Broken Relationships invites visitors to post a letter to their future selves. Those who still like to party can mosey on down to the Amazing Valentines Festival at Central Airport, while the more quirky Look Inside Bar sets up piñatas and puzzles for the brave. If food is your jam, Simple Pleasures Café fills the garden with blues and sizzling South Indian kitchen service, while Palette at 137 Pillars House finishes dinner with a melting chocolate dome worth drooling over. The weekend also rolls straight into the 49th edition of Chiang Mai Flower Festival, with the city blooming well beyond the old city walls and a parade of floats carrying Valentine’s straight through to Sunday. Here’s where to spend the day of love with a little more personality and of course some petals too. Looking for other things to do this weekend in Chiang Mai? Our

Say ‘Hepopa’ to Chiang Dao’s 10-day festival!

The point of Shambhala In Your Heart – Chiang Mai’s 10-day culture and arts festival – has never been spectacle. It’s about slowing down enough to hear music properly, to meet strangers who quickly become friends and to remember how easy life can be when the day follows the shape of the mountains. The backdrop of majestic Doi Luang, Chiang Dao, sets the pace from the moment you arrive – unhurried, grounded and a little wild. Running since 2010, the gathering was founded by self-described Japanese hippies who fell in love with the nearby hot springs and crisp mountain air. Just as all good festivals emerge, what began as a circle of friends has grown steadily, yet Shambhala has kept almost exactly the same shape – handmade by volunteers, analogue and gently resistant to the modern festival machine. They even write attendees names in a book like it’s 1995. The first weekend – remember, it’s a 10-day festival running from February 6-15 – welcomed around 2,500 visitors – many camping straight through the week. Once past the makeshift gates, the site looks like a postcard from another decade. Teepees rise from the grass, strings of fabric flags crisscross the trees and the smell of wood smoke drifts through food stalls serving simple, hearty plates. A row of hilltribe vendors sells woven bags, jewellery and tie-dye. Nothing is polished and that’s the point. People arrive with tents, hammocks, children and dogs, planning to

Dressed for dinner, ready for the mall

Bangkok is evolving into a city where pets can come along for the ride. Cafes are setting out water bowls, shopping centres are relaxing rules and public spaces are beginning to open their gates. Benjakitti Park already has a dedicated dog park and Lumphini Park is preparing one of its own, signs that the capital is slowly learning to make room for our fur babies. In this changing landscape, a few pets have become unlikely ambassadors, none more recognisable than the stars of the page Eyebrows are the Crown of Calorie. The appeal goes beyond dramatic brows, glamorous wigs and runway-ready outfits. At its heart is a story about responsibility, creativity and the bond between a man and his dogs. For Prompirya ‘Black’ Batmabisek, adopting a dog was never part of the plan. He loved fashion and design and pets were new territory, until one ordinary day and an unexpected visit that changed everything. What inspired you to get your first dog?I’ve always loved fashion, creativity and design, but I’ve never raised a pet before. One day I accompanied a friend to buy a dog and saw a tiny Chihuahua sitting alone with an injured leg. I felt sorry for him and decided to take him home myself. The seller told me he would stay small – which turned out not to be entirely true. Calorie had weak muscles and needed acupuncture for almost a year before he could walk normally. That was four years ago and it was the start of everything. How did the idea of the ‘dog with eyeb

Marshmallow Restival and the rhythm of doing less

ฉันรู้ตัวว่าฉันต้องชอบ (และอาจจะกำลังต้องการ) มายังเทศกาลนี้ตั้งแต่อยู่หน้าประตูทางเข้า โดยเฉพาะหลังจากที่ผ่านงานอีเวนต์ที่ต้องใช้พลังงานแบบน็อนสตอบในช่วงที่ผ่านมา Abonzo Yama Mitsu ตั้งอยู่บนเนินเขาที่ลาดเอียงพอดีๆ นอกตัวเมืองเชียงราย พร้อมวิวหุบเขาและแม่น้ำกกแบบ 360 องศา เวทีกลางแจ้งหันหลังให้กับทิวเขาที่สลับซับซ้อนสุดลูกหูลูกตา โดยมีแสงพระอาทิตย์ตกดินเป็นเฟรมภาพที่สมบูรณ์แบบอยู่ไกลๆ ที่นี่เป็นสถานที่ที่สะกดสายตาด้วยธรรมชาติเสียจนทำให้คุณต้องรู้สึกผ่อนคลายทันทีที่มาถึง ฉันได้รับการต้อนรับด้วยรอยยิ้มกว้างที่คุ้นเคยจาก ตั๋ง-จิรปาณ ขาวคำ นักไวโอลินจากกรุงเทพฯ ที่ฉันเคยร่วมงานและได้ดูเขาแสดงมาหลายปี ฉันเป็นแฟนคลับตัวยงของเขาเลยล่ะ ปรากฏว่าเขาเป็นหัวหน้าวงไวโอลินในวง Marshmallow Symphony Orchestra ฉันไม่ได้คาดคิดมาก่อนว่าจะเจอคนรู้จักที่นี่ การได้เจอเขาตั้งแต่วินาทีแรกเลยทำให้ใจฟูขึ้นมาทันที ‘ผมได้รับคำเชิญจาก ‘โน้ต’ เพื่อนของผมที่เป็นคอนดักเตอร์ เขาพานักดนตรีจากกรุงเทพฯ เชียงใหม่ เชียงราย และพะเยา มารวมตัวกันเพื่อวงออร์เคสตรานี้ครับ’ ตั๋งบอกกับฉัน ‘เราเล่นครั้งแรกในงานแต่งงานของผู้จัดงาน แล้วเขาชอบสไตล์มาก เลยขอให้จัดวงขนาด 30-40 คนมาเล่นในงาน Restival นี้ ผมรู้สึกว่าได้รับการดูแลดีมากและประทับใจกับประสบการณ์ทั้งหมดจริงๆ’ Marshmallow Restival นิยามตัวเองว่าเป็นเทศกาลแห่งการพักผ่อน ที่นี่ไม่มีโชว์ตอนเที่ยงคืน ไม่มีตารางเวลาที่ทุกคนต้องเร่งรีบ มีเพียงเวิร์กช็อป โปรแกรมดนตรีที่คัดสรรมาอย่างดี และวิวดอยที่ทอดยาวให้ทุกคนได้ปล่อยใจไปกับมัน ผู้คนส่วนใหญ่เป็นครอบครัวคนไทยรุ่นใหม่ที่มีเด็กๆ วิ่งไล่จับกันระหว่างแถวเก้าอี

Marshmallow Restival and the rhythm of doing less

I knew I’d enjoy (and probably needed) this festival before reaching the gate, especially after the run of high-octane events of late. Abonzo Yama Mitsu sits on a rolling hill just outside Chiang Rai town, with a 360-degree view over the valley and Kok River below. The open stage backed out onto layers of endlessly folding hills, with sunset perfectly framed in the distance. It’s the kind of place that is so naturally captivating that it demands you unwind the moment you arrive. I was quickly greeted with a big and familiar smile from Jirapahn ‘Tung’ Khaokum – a Bangkok-based violinist I’ve worked with and seen perform over the years. I’m a big fan. Turns out he’s the first violin in the Marshmallow Symphony Orchestra. I hadn’t expected to know anyone here, so seeing him right away lifted my arrival spirits. ‘I was invited by my friend Note – the conductor, who brought musicians from Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai and Phayao together for this orchestra,’ Tung told me. ‘We first played at the organiser’s wedding and they liked the style so much they asked for a 30- to 40-piece band for the Restival. I felt really taken care of and very impressed by the whole experience.’ Marshmallow Restival dubs itself a relaxation festival. No midnight sets, no frantic timetable, just workshops, a well-curated music program and a long, lazy view of the mountains. The crowd was mostly young Thai families with kids chasing ea

Getting lost at Gaia Beats

Gaia Beats occupies a unique middle ground on the Chiang Mai festival circuit. It avoids the high-octane EDM spectacle of Thantawan, yet stops short of the deep-rooted ‘hippie’ eccentricity found at Shambala In Your Heart. This was only the festival’s second year, and while I missed the inaugural edition, which was smaller and ran for just one day, I arrived expecting something fairly intimate, even with the expansion to a three-day format. Walking into the festival, the first thing that hit me was just how beautiful it all looked, and how much thought had clearly gone into it. At its heart, the festival was about connecting with nature and community, and showing that a good party did not have to come at the planet’s expense. About an hour east of Chiang Mai in Mae On, Gaia Beats took over Sense Hot Spring Wellness – a hotel and spa complex tucked into forested hills. Before I even made it to a stage, the visual language of the place stopped me in my tracks. Giant dome-shaped bamboo and fabric shades stretched over pathways and gathering spaces, sunlight filtering through lush bamboo landing on the site’s unmistakable deep purple buildings. Psychedelic, hand-painted signage created by a team of volunteers popped up throughout, reinforcing the sense that every d