HRH Princess Ubolratana to preside film industry event in Santa Monica marking increasing cooperation between the Thai and American Film Industries
Presided over by Her Royal Highness Princess Ubolratana Rajakanya Sirivadhana Barnavadi, Thai Night 2014 will be the occasion to celebrate a long history of friendship between Thailand and Hollywood, and foster new collaborations.
Held on Thursday October 30th, 2014, in Santa Monica, California, the event will put the focus on Thai-US co-productions and Thailand as a filming destination of choice for American productions.
In 2013, a record 67 international motion pictures were filmed in Thailand, a 26% increase from the year before. Recent highlights include Cannes 2013 official competition¹s Only God Forgives starring Ryan Gosling and Kristin Scott Thomas, The Railway Man starring Colin Firth and Nicole Kidman, and the upcoming The Coup, an action film starring Owen Wilson, Pierce Brosnan and Lake Well.
Thailand¹s appeal is based on a unique combination of factors which makes the country extremely production-friendly : skilled and experienced crews, state-of-the-art filming and post-production facilities as well as gorgeous locations and world-class hospitality.
Moreover, with the rise of a more internationally-minded generation of film professionals, Thai films are now getting distribution far and wide, and Thai film companies are expanding beyond their borders. Last year, Thai production services company Benetone Films and U.S. producer Hillin Entertainment formed Benetone Hillin Entertainment, the first Thai-American production joint-venture. In July, leading Thai entertainment company Kantana announced the creation of Kantana Japan Corporation, a partnership with Nippon Television Network and Nikkatsu. In August, four Thai film companies M Pictures, Bangkok Film Studio, True I-Content and Matching Studio joined forces to create Transformation Films, a production venture targeting the fast-growing Chinese market. And new Thai foreign sales outfit Mosquito Films Distribution launched this year as well, intent on capitalizing on the promising new wave of Thai indie filmmakers and their growing international appeal. Sign of the times, foreign producers are now relocating their main offices to Thailand, such as SC Films and Yellowmoon Productions.
All these accomplishments and more will be at the center of Thai Night 2014
- Where Films Come Alive, an exclusive event organized by the Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP), Royal Thai Ministry Of Commerce, on the eve of the American Film Market.
