Chiang Mai, June 23, 2025—Hylife Group, Chiang Mai's leading conglomerate in real estate, asset management, and manufacturing, has announced the signing of a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the prestigious Busan International Film Festival and key industry partners to position Chiang Mai as a premier entertainment hub in Asia.
The historic agreement was formalised during a ceremony held at the Chiang Mai Historical Centre. The partnership included K Wave Media, Solaire Partners, and Lewis Pictures, creating a powerful alliance to advance the regional film industry.
Mr. Shubhodeep Das, Group CEO of Hylife Group, led the signing ceremony alongside distinguished partners including Mr. Kwang Su Park, Chairperson of the Busan International Film Festival; Ms. Young Deog Kim, Director of the Busan International Film Festival; Mr. Pyung Ho Choi, Chairman of K Wave Media; Mr. Dale Lee, CEO of Solaire Partners; Mr. Lewis Taewon Kim, CEO of Lewis Pictures; and Ms. Eui Joeng Hong, Producer of Lewis Pictures. The ceremony was attended by government dignitaries, cultural representatives, and members of the international press, underscoring the significance of this cross-cultural collaboration.
"This partnership represents a transformative moment for Thailand's film industry," said Mr. Shubhodeep Das. "By collaborating with the Busan International Film Festival – one of Asia's most prestigious cultural platforms—we aim to position Chiang Mai as a regional hub that attracts film investors and productions, creating substantial employment opportunities and encouraging our local workforce to contribute to the city's evolution as a soft power destination."
The collaboration aligns with Hylife Group's "Creative Chiang Mai: Empowering Tomorrow's Entertainment" initiative, a comprehensive vision to transform the historic city into a vibrant centre for creativity and innovation. This strategic framework focused on attracting film investment, creating employment opportunities, and motivating students and professionals in Chiang Mai to actively participate in building the city's creative identity. As part of the long-term roadmap, Hylife Group announced preparations to launch the inaugural Chiang Mai International Film Festival in 2026, which aims to attract film investors and productions throughout Asia, stimulate the regional economy, generate substantial employment, and establish Chiang Mai as a recognised destination for entertainment industry development.
The strategic alliance is more than a business partnership, it reflects a commitment to economic development, employment creation, and regional growth through cultural influence. The collaboration focuses on attracting international film investments to Chiang Mai, creating job opportunities across various skill levels, and inspiring the local workforce to engage with the entertainment industry. Through this partnership, participating organisations aim to establish Chiang Mai as a compelling destination for film productions, stimulating economic growth while building the city's reputation as a cultural and creative hub.
The MOU establishes a framework for ongoing collaboration between Hylife Group and its international partners, creating opportunities for attracting film investments, generating employment, and positioning Chiang Mai as a regional production hub. This comprehensive approach ensures sustainable economic growth through entertainment industry development while building the city's international appeal. The initiative supports Thailand's broader economic development goals and positions Chiang Mai as a strategic location for international film productions, which is expected to stimulate the regional economy and create diverse employment opportunities across the entertainment sector.
The partnership marks a pivotal milestone in positioning Chiang Mai as a regional entertainment production centre, which is poised to attract significant film investments, create substantial employment opportunities, and inspire local professionals and students to contribute to the city's transformation into a soft power destination that drives economic growth across multiple sectors.
