Thailand is making a concerted effort to attract international film and television production, with two Bangkok-based industry players, production services company Retina Film Production and animation and VFX company Monk Studio, both present at Hong Kong Filmart, courting producers, studios and streaming platforms from across Asia.
The timing coincides with a major upgrade to Thailand’s national film promotion framework. The revised program offers tiered cash rebates starting at 15% for productions with eligible expenditures in Thailand of 50 million baht (approximately $1.54 million) or more, up to 20% for expenditures between 100 million and 150 million baht (approximately $3.08-4.62 million), and 25% for expenditures exceeding 150 million baht (approximately $4.62 million). Importantly, this program has no upper limit.
Productions can further increase their rebates through a series of additional incentives. A 5% bonus will be given for hiring Thai nationals in key positions on the team. An additional 5% for works that incorporate elements that promote Thai tourism, soft power, or a positive image of Thailand. 3% bonus for filming in states designated by the Ministry of Tourism. For productions that are not only shot in Thailand but also have post-production completed within the country, an additional 3% will be added. The combined limit for primary and additional incentives is 30%.
The program has also been streamlined administratively. It requires no cultural testing, operates with a single permit covering unlimited locations, and promises film permit approval within 10 days.
Retina Film Production is registered with the Film Authority of Thailand under the Ministry of Tourism and Sports and has established itself as a one-stop production service partner for Chinese and other international projects shot in Thailand. Founded by Aroon Wittayanon and operated for more than 15 years, the company has backed productions such as “Sheep Without a Shepherd,” “Chinatown 3,” “Sarah,” “Resurrection,” and “The Octopus with a Broken Arm,” and claims to be the first company to secure cash rebates for Chinese productions in China.
Services provided range from film permit applications, government coordination and regulatory approvals, local staff and equipment procurement, location scouting, production budgeting in line with Thailand’s incentive framework, and assistance with cash rebate applications.
“Our goal is to help overseas producers work smoothly and efficiently in Thailand,” Mr Wittayanon said. “We are focused on bridging international production and Thai production ecosystems so that projects can move forward quickly and effectively.”
In the broader industry context, Witayanon noted that incentive programs have become a determining factor for overseas producers when evaluating locations in Southeast Asia. “From our experience working on Chinese language productions and other international projects, the combination of competitive production costs, diverse filming locations, experienced staff and government incentive programs make Thailand one of the most attractive filming locations in Asia,” he said.
Separately, Thailand has also activated a 20% cash rebate specifically for animation, VFX and post-production work. This is a fee-for-service incentive designed for offshore projects outsourced to Thai studios rather than requiring physical filming in the country. The scheme covers game art, animation assets, cinematics, and a full suite of digital post services, with a minimum spending threshold of 5 million baht (approximately $153,891) per contract. The Thai service provider will handle all government application and audit processes locally, and once the project is completed and paid in full, the rebate will be issued as a single cash payment.
Monk Studio, which is also part of Filmart, is one of the Thai companies that stands to benefit from the separate scheme. Founded in 2007, the Bangkok studio is behind the Chinese blockbuster “Ne Zha 2,” DreamWorks’ “The Tiger’s Apprentice” and “Carnival Row” Season 2, and is now branching out into original IP and game development.
“We’ve spent years building the talent and quality to compete with any hub in the world, and our partners have always seen the value in that,” said Jack Somssaman, founder of Monk Studio. “This 20% rebate finalizes the financial side of that equation. It removes the last remaining barrier for global studios and confirms that Thailand is ready to lead as a leading destination for the world’s most demanding pipelines.”
