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THAI NIGHT AFM 2017

Q&A WITH Mr. Winichai Chaemchaeng, Vice Minister for Commerce, Royal Thai Ministry of Commerce

Is the Thai film industry a priority for the Thai Government?

Absolutely. The Thai Government recognizes that creative industries, and film in particular, are very key sectors for the country, both from an economic and from a cultural standpoint. 

Is the Thai film industry contributing to the Thai economy in significant way?

The importance of the entertainment sector is growing relative to Thailand’s global economy. The Thais consume more and more content, and new means of distribution such as digital TV and mobile content create a need for more content. Our box office is nearing the $100M mark. The Thai film industry also plays a very important role by projecting our cultural presence around the world and helping promote our country. There are also more and more international productions that choose to film in Thailand, and this has many beneficial consequences for our country. Last year, the number of foreign films produced in Thailand increased by 15%, with China leading with 65 films. Recent films shot in Thailand include “GOLD” starring Matthew McConaughey, Edgar Ramírez and Bryce Dallas Howard, “ALL I SEE IS YOU” starring Blake Lively and Jason Clarke, “MECHANIC RESURRECTION” starring Jason Statham, and “NO ESCAPE” starring Lake Bell and Pierce Brosnan. There are also some obvious synergies between film and tourism, for instance, which we are keen to amplify.

Are there any financial incentives that foreign productions can access while filming in Thailand?

We just launched a film incentive programme that offers up to 20% in cash incentive for qualifying production expenditures. In addition to these new financial incentives, Thailand is a very competitive destination to make films, because it offers a very professional, production-friendly and cost-efficient environment for filming. The first international film to benefit from the tax rebate initiative is “CHANGELAND”, the directorial debut of actor Seth Green, starring himself and Breckin Meyer, and featuring Macaulay Culkin.

What are the main assets of the Thai film industry?

Our industry is experienced, skilled and use the latest technologies in production and post-production. Thai people are naturally very creative and they bring a lot to the table when it comes to participating in creative endeavors such as a film production. Combined with state-of-the-art facilities and equipment, these characteristics are what made the Thai film industry the first entertainment hub in Southeast Asia. Our film industry also benefit from some of Thailand’s overall strengths, such as the beauty of our sceneries, our great sense of hospitality and the modernity of our services and infrastructures, to name a few.