Q&A by Minister of Commerce during Thai Night Hong Kong 2018
Mr. Sontirat Sontijirawong
Q: Is the Thai film industry contributing to the Thai economy in significant way?
A: Thai film industry is experienced a phase of rapid growth. 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. The exam thriller BAD GENIUS, for instance, did extremely well around the world, and especially in China where it grossed over 41 million US dollars at the local box office.
Q: Is Thailand becoming more attractive to foreign productions?
A: Indeed. More and more international productions select Thailand as a filming destination. Last year, the number of foreign feature films produced in our country increased by 68% compared to 2016! Recent films include “PARADOX”, the 2017 Hong Kong-Chinese action film directed by Wilson Yip and starring Louis Koo, Tony Jaa and Wu Yue, the Chinese hit comedy “DETECTIVE CHINATOWN” directed by Chen Sicheng and starring Wang Baoqiang and Liu Haoran, China’s box-office record-breaking “OPERATION MEKONG” directed by Dante Lam and starring Eddie Peng or “MECHANIC RESURRECTION” starring Jason Statham.
Q: Are there any financial incentives that foreign productions can access while filming in Thailand?
A: Last year, we 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. This has had an immediate positive effect on our attractiveness, but this is not the main reason why foreign productions are looking at the Thai film industry as a partner.
Q: What are the main assets of the Thai film industry?
A: 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.
This year, Thailand has been represented at FILMART 2018 by more companies and with a stronger presence than ever before.
The Thai companies were in a dedicated area in Hall 1B, between rows A and B.
