The Future of Film in Thailand
LV & CO. | In Focus
Thailand is positioning itself for a larger role in the international film and television industry, building on an established history of hosting major productions while looking to attract more projects from the United States.
At the recent “Bridging Thailand With Hollywood” forum at the Directors Guild of America, Thai entertainment executives, producers, and filmmakers discussed the country's production landscape and the opportunities available to U.S. filmmakers looking for locations outside traditional production centers.
The panel featured Sirisak Koshpasharin, Vice Chairman of Thailand’s National Federation of Motion Pictures and Contents Associations; Chayanont Ulit, CEO of Matching Maximize Solution PCL; Nuttapong Mongkolsawas, Director, Producer, and Senior Director of Content Production at GMMTV; and Sathanapong Limwongthong, Film Producer and Director at NOB Production.
Thailand is already familiar territory for major international productions. Jurassic World Rebirth filmed in Thailand, while HBO's The White Lotus Season 3 was filmed across Bangkok, Phuket, and Koh Samui. These productions reflect the country's existing ability to support large-scale international projects.
The next objective is to bring more creative projects to Thailand. A major part of Thailand's appeal is cost. During the forum, panelists emphasized that production budgets can go significantly further in Thailand. The country's cost-effective production environment, combined with the ability to work with Thai crews and local production resources, can provide U.S. productions with opportunities to manage expenses while maintaining the resources needed to bring a project to life. Additionally, incentives are another strategic consideration. Thailand has developed incentives aimed at encouraging international productions to film in the country, adding another financial consideration for filmmakers evaluating potential production locations.
However, the appeal extends beyond cost. Thailand offers diverse locations, local production talent, and an established entertainment industry capable of supporting projects across genres. The combination of production resources, logistics, and financing opportunities gives international filmmakers another option when determining where to shoot.
Simultaneously, Thailand's ambitions extend beyond serving as a filming location. Its own entertainment companies are developing content with international audiences in mind. For instance, GMMTV, represented on the panel by Nuttapong Mongkolsawas, is developing projects across genres, including horror, action, investigation, and mystery, with plans to introduce a period drama later in the year. The strategy reflects an effort to create content that can reach audiences beyond Thailand while continuing to incorporate Thai culture and identity. The goal is to develop stories with international appeal while maintaining a distinctly Thai perspective.
That creates a broader opportunity for the country's entertainment industry. Thailand can serve as a production destination for international filmmakers while simultaneously developing its own film and television content for audiences beyond its borders.
For U.S. filmmakers, the combination of competitive production costs, incentives, local crews, diverse locations, and established production resources makes Thailand an increasingly relevant option when evaluating where to shoot a project.
With major international productions already filming in Thailand, the country is looking to build on that momentum by attracting additional U.S. productions and expanding opportunities for international collaboration. Its growing production infrastructure and internationally focused content strategy position Thailand for a larger role in the global film and television industry.
