Bigger incentives for movie makers

BANGKOK  The Thai Cabinet has asked the Ministry of Tourism and Sports and the Ministry of Finance to increase financial assistance through bigger cash rebates to attract more foreign movie companies to film in Thailand.

Government spokesman, Sansern Kaewkamnerd, said the Cabinet agreed in principle, last week, to give rebates to attract big-budget movies to shoot in Thailand, but recommended the rebates would have to have more incentives if they were to succeed.

The Cabinet has approved in principle a cash rebate equivalent of 15% on every THB30 million spent shooting a foreign big-budget movie in Thailand and another 5% for filmmakers using local post-production services. For overall, the rebate will not exceed 20% per production.

“The ministries have been tasked to discuss appropriate rates and details to attract foreign filmmakers shooting productions in Thailand,” the spokesman said.

Ministry of Finance is also tasked to seek a funding source to support the rebate scheme. Initially, the ministry suggested the government rely on a competitiveness development fund to support the scheme for three years allocating THB150 million per year.

Tourism and Sports Minister Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul said Thailand has huge potential as a film location and it would help to boost the country’s tourism image through the visuals.

Thailand earned a record THB3,141.15 million from on-location film shoots, January to December last year, according to the Ministry of Tourism and Sports’ Thailand Film Office Department data.

In 2015, 722 documentaries, advertising slots, TV series, and music videos were filmed on location generating an estimated THB3,141.15 million in tourism related revenue compared to 631 productions and THB1,934.18 million in 2014.

The 722 productions were categorised as 329 advertising spots/ public relations, 175 documentaries, 63 feature films, 62 television programmes, 57 music videos, 16 TV series, nine game shows/ realities, eight sensitive content TV programme and three others not categorised.

India filmmakers topped the list with 125 productions followed by 119 from Japan, 50 from Pakistan, 48 from China, 45 from the United Kingdom, 42 from the United States, 34 from South Korea, 29 from Hong Kong, 27 from France and 19 from Germany.