The Department of Tourism's Thailand Film Office (TFO) is set to participate in the Thai Movie Festival 2024, taking place from 12-15 September at the National Museum of Indian Cinema (NMIC) in Mumbai. This event, organised in collaboration with the Royal Thai Consulate-General in Mumbai, the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Department of Information, and the Indian Government's National Film Development Corporation (NFDC), aims to promote Thailand's soft power and highlight the country's potential as a prime filming destination for Indian filmmakers.
Chaturon Pakdevanich, Director-General of the Department of Tourism, emphasised the significance of the Indian movie industry, which is a massive market for films, TV series, and other entertainment forms. He noted that between January and August this year, 35 Indian movies were shot in Thailand, with an investment exceeding 265 million baht, ranking second among all foreign films made in the country.
"This is a great opportunity for the Department of Tourism to build confidence by inviting Indian film crews to make movies in Thailand, which has long been a favourite location for Indian filmmakers,” said Chaturon. He highlighted the incentives available to Indian film crews, including a 15-20 percent rebate, which serves as a significant motivation for choosing Thailand as a filming location.
Chaturon expressed hopes that the festival would further encourage Indian filmmakers to explore Thailand’s diverse locations for their projects. "The Department of Tourism sincerely hopes that more Indian film crews will travel to Thailand to make movies. This will generate income for the country, create jobs in the film industry, and spread Thailand’s soft power culture to the eyes of film viewers, which in turn should boost tourism,” he added.
By showcasing the Thai film industry's capabilities to Indian government agencies, filmmakers, and the general public, the Thai Movie Festival 2024 aims to strengthen Thailand's position as a premier destination for international film production and enhance cultural ties between the two nations.
