FILMING IN September 2017

Boost for the industry Incentives are here! A closer look into the new initiative Celebrating success Thailand International Film Destination Festival 2 Welcome Incentives Filming In Thailand 3 WELCOME BACK TO Incentive Measures Up and RunninG

‘FILMING IN THAILAND’ At the Cannes Film Festival, 2016, the countries worldwide to attract production Deputy Prime Minister and the Minis- is now fierce. ter of Tourism and Sports announced ‘Filming in Thailand’ is back bringing All international productions are required the introduction of Incentive Measures Many productions now rely upon local you regular news and updates. to obtain a shooting permit. We have to support Thailand’s international incentives to bridge the gap between the We hope you will find it useful and made great efforts over the last few years production service industry. investment raised and the budget informative. to streamline this process, and the vast requirements. Tax breaks, rebates and majority of applications take less than The Thailand Film Office accepted incentives are frequently an important Since it’s been a while since our last two weeks to gain approval. applications from the beginning of element in the financial plan. Producers issue, may I start by outlining the role of 2017, and productions have now been not only look for locations that offer the the Thailand Film Office in the support, Thirdly, we promote Thailand as a place approved to receive the incentives. In right visual elements, efficient crews, administration and promotion of to bring international productions. We our next issue, we will bring news of the and strong infrastructure; they also look international production in Thailand. respond to email and phone enquiries, productions that have already benefited to maximise their production budget provide advice to interested producers from the incentive measures. through local incentives. Firstly, we recognise the incredible work and regularly attend international markets of the production service companies and and location shows. Incoming productions are not only a Thailand’s new incentive measures will production co-ordinators who provide source of revenue, but also support ensure that the Kingdom maintains its the support for incoming productions. Finally, our new proud mission is to growth in local skills and infrastructure, competitiveness in the world market. There are a large number of companies administer the new incentive measures. and, particularly in the case of Thailand, and co-ordinators in Thailand, catering I am pleased to see that the measures have created massive benefits to the The full details of the incentive measures to every budget level, nationality, and are now fully operational, and that we tourism industry. are available from the Thailand Film (L to R) Mr. Pongpanu Svetarundra genre of production. A list of companies are already attracting new productions Office. - Permanent Secretary of Ministry of and individual ‘fixers’ is available on our to Thailand with the incentives. We’ll However, while Thailand has maintained Tourism and Sports, Ms. Kobkarn website. bring you more news of these in future and even strengthened its position as Wattanavrangkul - Minister of Tourism issues. a hub of international production in and Sports, General Tanasak We want your experience dealing with South-East , competition amongst Patimapragorn - Deputy Prime Minister a local service company to be as 2017 has been a good year so far for the smooth and efficient as possible. So, Thailand Film Office and for the all companies and individuals offering production services industry. By July we their services to international produc- had already welcomed 64 feature films tions must register with the Thailand to Thailand. While incoming productions Film Office, must meet skill and from most regions are stable or growing, We hope to see you soon, either at one of Thailand Incentive Measures Key Points experience requirements, and must Thailand has become increasingly the international events listed here, or in 15-20% attend annual briefings. attractive to Chinese productions. 2017 Thailand! has already seen more productions from Secondly, the Thailand Film Office is China visiting Thailand than any other Worateera Suvarnsorn Main Incentive, 15% of local spend responsible for issuing shooting permits. year before. Director – Thailand Film Office Additional Incentive 3% Attained by using key Thai personnel (the full chart is available from the Thailand Film Office) Additional Incentive 2% Available for productions that are considered to offer particular benefits to Thai tourism. Regions for incoming productions to Thailand in 2017 to date: Events where you can meet the Thailand Film Office - 2017 and 2018. • Qualifying productions must have a minimum local spend of 50 million Baht (approx. $1.5m 10 TAIWAN 7 Productions 15th - 17th Oct. 2017 Link of Cine-Asia – Busan, South Korea at August 2017 exchange rates) 9 HONG KONG 21 Productions 20th - 22nd Oct. 2017 AFCI Cineposium – , USA • Maximum rebate available for any production – 75 million Baht (approx $2.25m at August 8 AUSTRALIA 21 Productions 24th - 26th Oct. 2017 TIFFCOM – Tokyo, Japan 2017 exchange rates) 7 KOREA 39 Productions 1st - 8th Nov. 2017 American Film Market • Applications are accepted in January, May and September. 6 U.S.A. 46 Productions – Santa Monica, USA 5 U.K. 48 Productions 7th - 10th Nov. 2017 Asian Side of the Doc – Bangkok, • Productions must be approved under the normal procedures for obtaining a film permit prior 4 CHINA 61 Productions Thailand to application. 3 EUROPE 89 Productions 5th -6th Dec. 2017 Focus – London, UK • Applications will be considered and verified and a decision announced within 90 days. 2 INDIA 104 Productions 19th - 22nd Mar. 2018 Hong Kong Filmart – Hong Kong • Payment will be made by money transfer to the applicant within 60 days of the audit of 1 JAPAN 110 Productions 4th - 6th Apr. 2018 Content Tokyo – Tokyo, Japan production accounts. 9th - 20th May 2018 Cannes Film Festival – Cannes, France 18th - 22nd June 2018 Shanghai Film Festival – Shanghai, China 4 Festival Events Filming In Thailand 5 THAILAND INTERNATIONAL FILM Thailand Short Film DESTINATION FESTIVAL 2017 Competition 2017 The festival celebrates a successful fifth year. Surely the most rewarding, exciting and challenging short film competition in the world!

There are many film festivals around the brings student film-makers from across world dedicated to every genre and sub- the world to different regions of Thailand genre of film, but as far as we know, the to make a short film. Thailand International Film Destination Festival is unique as the only film This year, twenty-four teams of students festival to celebrate the international in pairs joined the competition. They production services industry. came from many countries, including Nepal, Israel, Philippines, Italy, Croatia, Each year, between fifty and eighty India, and Serbia. They were joined by international feature films bring all or nine Thai teams competing in a separate part of their production to Thailand. section. They come from many different countries and cover many different Teams each received a plane ticket to genres, styles and budgets. They are ‘The Killing Fields’ Team Reunion Participants in the Thailand Short Film Competition 2017 Thailand, four nights in a Bangkok hotel attracted by the stunning locations, during pre and post-production, a local modern equipment and infrastructure, Do, veteran Korean producer - Jonathan their film careers at the time of The Thailand International Filmof film-makers to discover what Thailand production assistant, transportation and excellent crews, warm hospitality, and Kim, the director of the festival hit shooting, and have since gone on to Destination Festival not only celebrates has to offer. $1000 budget for their film. the reasonable costs. ‘Jailbreak’ - Jimmy Henderson, and become leading figures in the local and the achievements of established film- international actor and screenwriter - international film industry. They had makers – it also invites a new generation Now in its fifth year, the competition Each year for the last five years, the fond memories of the family atmosphere Thailand Film Office has celebrated the on the shoot, and the incredible achievements of these productions, the learning experience. creativity of the international film- makers, and the contribution that Thai The festival wrapped up with an THE WINNING FILM crews have made. Awards Ceremony, where a parade of local stars joined to celebrate Last month, the festival screened five the amazing achievements of the ‘If I Were Brave’ classic films – ‘Air America’, ‘The Man international production services with the Golden Gun’, ‘Bridget Jones: industry. The Grand Prize was awarded to Pamela She was extremely helpful. It was strange The Edge of Reason’, ‘The Deer Hunter’ Velazquez and Fernando Arturo Muñoz how suddenly we all became best and ‘The Killing Fields’. Record from Mexico who shot their film ‘If I friends. It made the experience way attendance was achieved, as audiences Were Brave’ in Krabi. more memorable!” welcomed the opportunity to see these landmark films on the big screen at the Kong Rithdee interviews Mario Kassar Not only was their trip to Thailand one Their film tells the story of a young girl Paragon Cineplex, Bangkok’s premiere of the longest of any participants, but who lives on an island but has to cinema complex. Damon Whitaker visited the festival they chose to shoot in Krabi, one of the overcome her fear of the water. and had a chance to network with local furthest destinations from Bangkok. By We were delighted to welcome Mario film-makers and visit the latest plane it would have been a quick hop, “When we arrived, we had no locations, Kassar, producer of ‘Air America’ and a production facilities. but they had to travel by road. Of their no actresses, nothing! We went to explore number of hit films including ‘: choice of location, Pamela admits, “It the Emerald Pool, and there we found Part II’, ‘Total Recall’, ‘The ‘The Killing Fields’ was shot thirty- was not the smartest decision to be the two girls. We were very lucky. Our were some very good projects, so we did Doors’, ‘ 2: Judgement Day’, three years ago in Thailand. This honest. However, Krabi is really PA, Ta, was very persuasive, and their not think about winning. It was was a ’ and ‘Chaplin’. In a moving story of a Cambodian journalist The Thailand International beautiful. How could we regret going to mother agreed to allow the girls to act in such a beautiful feeling at the Awards fascinating Q&A with top critic Kong struggling to survive under the Khmer Film Destination Festival is Krabi? We love Krabi! We did thorough our film. The kids were fascinated. They Ceremony to hear the announcement Rithdee, he expressed his appreciation for Rouge regime was nominated for eight one of the most important research before our trip. But I had a grabbed their things and joined us on ‘Mexico’! The Thailand Short Film Thailand’s locations and crews, and his Oscars and won eight BAFTAs. events in the Thailand Film pleasant surprise that it was a lot better our adventure.” Competition is a unique opportunity. It hopes to return with future productions. Office calendar, and we look than I had imagined” gives you the opportunity to test your The packed screening presented an forward to next year’s event. The general quality of the films produced knowledge and skills and how to work Visiting feature film-makers including opportunity for a reunion. Many of the Having a local PA to assist was very by all the teams was very high, and under pressure. Moreover you get to Laos’ first female film director - Mattie Thai crew members were just starting valuable. Pamela says, “Our PA was Ta. Pamela did not expect to win. “There meet new friends and have a lot of fun!” Discover Thailand

Amazing locations in Thailand that you may not have seen before

No, it’s not the Grand Canyon, and it’s not a distant planet. banks. He assigned a dog to guard the river bank until it was It’s a place called Sam Phan Bok in Thailand. It’s on the finished. But of course the erosion of a river bank takes a border with Laos, east of Ubon Ratchathani. In the rainy very long time. The dog, proving his loyalty, never left the season, it disappears under the Mae Khong River, but spot. The figure of the dog remains to this day watching between December and April this extraordinary landscape over the Mae Khong river. is revealed. It’s name translates into English as simply ‘three thousand holes’, but it’s a place rich in mythology. Many different shapes of rock formation can be found, and visitors have found hearts, flower vases, even the shape of One of the most famous legends relates to a rock formation Mickey Mouse. which resembles the head of a dog. It is said that a ‘naga’ – a divine power that takes the form of a giant snake – was As the sun sets, it’s a truly magical landscape, just waiting living in the Mae Khong River, and wished to expand its for your story.

Department of Tourism

‘Filming in Thailand’ is published by the Thailand Film Office to promote and support Thailand as an international film destination Edited by Paul Spurrier To subscribe to ‘Filming In Thailand’, or to submit articles for inclusion, please contact: [email protected]

For information or advice on filming in Thailand, contact:

Thailand Film Office, Department of Tourism Ministry of Tourism and Sports Rama 1 Road, Bangkok 10330, Thailand Tel. 66-2219-4010-7 Ext. 462-463, 634, 66-2216-6907 www.thailandfilmoffice.org E-mail: [email protected]