Thailand has transformed from its scenic background into one of Asia’s most competitive production hubs, supported by enhanced film incentives and strong infrastructure, said Living Films partner and line producer Apinat Ob Siricharongjit, who spoke at the MPA seminar at the Tokyo International Film Festival.
Speaking at the event, the producer of the “Alien: Earth” series detailed Thailand’s journey from hosting location shoots to becoming a full-service production hub trusted by studios and filmmakers around the world. The country managed to increase film incentives from an initial 15% when first introduced in 2017 to 30% of local spending without a cap, and up to 20% before the latest increase late last year.
“What you have just seen is proof that Thailand is no longer just a movie backdrop. It has now developed into one of Asia’s most competitive production hubs, trusted by studios and filmmakers around the world,” Siricharonjit said after a video show of films made in the country.
Living Films has screened at least 15 films through Thailand’s incentive program, and the production director, who was one of the first to take advantage of the program, stressed that the country’s appeal extends beyond financial incentives. “It’s also about the infrastructure, the crew and the creativity of the local people,” he explained.
Thailand’s success stems from collaboration between government agencies and the private sector. The Ministry of Culture’s Department of Cultural Development and the Department of Tourism are working with the Thai Film Board and private companies, with industry experts joining the advisory committee to guide policy development. “Our government recognizes that film is not just an art. It is an industry and a bridge to soft power,” Siricharonjit said, adding that stable government policies and competitive incentives are critical to attracting international productions.
The scale of production activities produced significant economic effects. “Alien: Earth” alone created 24,000 jobs across the United States, employing 1,600 weekly local staff and 450 construction workers. The producers bought a hotel in Krabi, southern Thailand, and chartered a plane for filming.
Mr. Siricharonjit noted that the local division has grown from a small unit to a global team and emphasized the importance of developing a crew pipeline. “The staff has been trained and bilingual, working with the best people in Hollywood, Europe, Korea and Japan,” he said. However, he acknowledged that there are challenges when multiple major works overlap. At least 70% of Thailand’s staff base was employed during the production of “Alien: Earth,” but the situation became even more tense when “Jurassic World” arrived, with 400 crew members competing for filming locations.
“Alien: Earth” presented a unique challenge that expanded Thailand’s potential. “There are departments and sections that we have never done in Thailand before. For example, we didn’t have a biology department,” Siricharonjit revealed, explaining how working with an international team helped develop new skills. The elaborate creature eggs that appear in the work were made by Thai craftsmen.
Even when the cameras stop rolling, film production continues to drive tourism. Maya Bay, featured in The Beach (2000) starring Leonardo DiCaprio, remains a popular destination despite being “just a small bay. Really small, in fact.” Featured in “The Hangover Part II” (2011), Lebua Hotel still offers the Hangover Suite as one of its best-selling accommodations, and also offers the Hangover Cocktail as one of its top sellers. Most recently, “White Lotus,” filmed at a property on Koh Samui, saw occupancy rates soar after the first two episodes aired, demonstrating the “economic impact of international films.”
The influx of international productions encouraged infrastructure development. “The ecosystem starts and all the vendors, soundstages, rental houses, equipment, basses follow. With all these international productions coming in, everything is growing and that’s the demand,” Siricharonjit explained.
A combination of global expertise and local craftsmanship characterizes Thai products. “An art director who embraced local textures, a costume team and craftsmen who understood the traditions of the fabrics, and a construction team who built the sets. It is this combination of global skills and local artistry that makes Thailand truly unique,” he said. “Every work leaves more than an image on the screen, and a film is more than a work: it is an identity, an impact, and a memory.”
Mr. Siricharonjit emphasized the need for continuous evolution to maintain superhub status. “We must keep incentives competitive and predictable. We must continue to improve the speed of approvals, the transparency of audits, and incentives,” he said, adding that the country must continue to connect film and culture. “We must continue to try to connect movies to culture, not just Bangkok action movies and jungle epics, but also dramas in historic towns and stories that showcase creative cities, crowds and music. Superhub is not only a service platform, but also a part of culture.”
