Thailand Courts Bollywood: Spotlight on Filming at Thai Film Festival 2024
The Thai Film Office (TFO), under the Ministry of Tourism, is set to participate in the Thai Film Festival 2024, scheduled to take place from September 12 to 15 at the National Museum of Indian Cinema (NMIC) in Mumbai. Organized in collaboration with the Royal Thai Consulate General in Mumbai, the Department of Information (Thailand), and the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) of India, the event aims to promote Thailand as a prime filming destination for Indian filmmakers, while showcasing Thailand’s soft power.
Chaturong Pakdevanich, Director General of the Department of Tourism, emphasized the significance of the Indian film industry, noting that India is a major hub for movies, TV series, and other entertainment forms. Between January and August 2024, 35 Indian films were shot in Thailand, contributing over 265 million baht to the local economy, making Indian productions the second-highest-grossing foreign films shot in the country.
“Thailand has been a favored shooting location for Indian filmmakers, and this festival presents a valuable opportunity to further promote India Tourism’s credibility by encouraging more Indian film crews to shoot in Thailand,” said Chaturong. He pointed out the attractive 15-20% discounts offered to Indian film crews as a key incentive for choosing Thailand as a filming location.
Chaturong expressed hope that the festival will inspire Indian filmmakers to explore Thailand’s diverse locations for future projects. He added, “We hope that more Indian film teams will come to Thailand, contributing to the economy, generating jobs in the film industry, and promoting our soft power, which will ultimately boost tourism.”
The Thai Film Festival 2024 aims to highlight Thailand’s filmmaking potential to Indian government agencies, filmmakers, and the general public, further solidifying its position as a top destination for international productions and fostering cultural ties between the two nations.
