Thailand’s film shoots on the rise

BANGKOK, 14 September 2011 – Thailand earned a record Bt1,134.73 million from on- location film shoots in the first eight months of the year according to the Thailand Film Office Department, which is supervised by Ministry of Tourism and Sports.

The department reported that from January to August, there were 454 films, documentaries, advertising, TV series, and music video filmed on location in Thailand generating Bt1,134.73 million in revenue compared with 377 productions and Bt1,418.55 during the same period last year.

During the first eight months, foreign productions included 118 documentaries, 222 commercials, 26 films, 60 television programmes, and 28 music video productions.

Japan film makers led the field with 86 productions followed by 78 from Europe, 72 from India, 42 from Korea, 25 from China, 22 from the United States.

In August alone, there were 55 productions generating Bt101.71 million compared with 38 productions.

Of the 55 productions there were eight documentaries, 27 commercials, seven films, nine television programmes, and four music video productions.

Japanese production teams topped the list in August with 17 productions followed by 15 from India, five from Europe, four from China, three each from the United States and Korea, and one from Australia.

Since 2 November 2010 Thailand waived permit fees for foreign film makers to shoot productions on government owned properties under the National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department, Fine Arts Department, the State Railway of Thailand, the Treasury Department, the Royal Forest Department, the Royal Irrigation Department and Suvarnabhumi Airport.

Reduced fee are valid until 31 December this year except for the National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department properties where the exemption ends 1 December.