The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) took center stage today—Thursday, November 13, 2025—at the American Film Market (AFM), hosting its highly anticipated panel “Amazing Thailand Talk: Unlocking Thailand’s Cinematic Potential.” Held at the Fairmont Century Plaza, the session brought together executives from HBO, FX, and the Royal Thai Consulate General in Los Angeles to discuss Thailand’s emergence as one of the world’s most vibrant, film-friendly destinations.
Moderated by Thomas Livezey, Thai-American producer and actor, the panel featured an industry-acclaimed roster:
•Jay Roewe, Senior Vice President, Production Global Incentives & Production Planning at HBO/HBO Max/Warner Bros. Discovery—best known for overseeing The White Lotus Season 3 partnership in Thailand.
•Matt Magielnicki, Senior Vice President of Production at FX.
•Kevin Bernhardt, actor, producer, and screenwriter of Elephant White.
The discussion was officially opened by Tor Saralamba, Consul-General of Thailand in Los Angeles, representing the Royal Thai Consulate General. He detailed Thailand’s surge in international visibility thanks to competitive production incentives, world-class crews, and year-round, visually diverse film locations ranging from futuristic Bangkok cityscapes to pristine islands and ancient temples.
During the session, TAT emphasized Thailand’s evolution into a global production powerhouse. The nation has spent the last decade building a reputation for seamless production support, cost-effective incentives, and cinematic landscapes capable of doubling for nearly any world region.
Major recent international productions filmed in Thailand include:
Jurassic World: Rebirth
Alien: Earth
The White Lotus Season 3 (shot across Bangkok, Phuket, and Koh Samui)
These projects were supported by Thailand’s rapidly expanding film-incentive program, generating millions in economic impact and boosting local job creation. HBO’s Roewe highlighted how Thailand’s unified support system—government, local film commissions, tourism partners, and community organizations—creates an exceptionally filmmaker-friendly environment.
In a joint statement, Chompu Marusachot (Director, TAT New York), Pornpan Intratat (Director, TAT Los Angeles), and Anoma Vongyai (Director, TAT Chicago) underscored the nation’s commitment to creativity and global collaboration:
“From breathtaking landscapes and leading production facilities to skilled crews and supportive film policies, Thailand continues to stand out as a premier destination for international productions. We look forward to inspiring new collaborations that bring Thailand’s cinematic potential to life.”
The panel also highlighted one of TAT’s newest initiatives—expanding promotional partnerships with productions after filming concludes, offering studios opportunities to leverage Thailand’s global tourism spotlight for marketing campaigns, premieres, and cross-promotional events.
Known worldwide as the Land of Smiles, Thailand is home to some of Southeast Asia’s most iconic locations—Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket, Koh Samui, and Krabi—each offering filmmakers distinct atmospheres and visual identities. Its blend of ultra-modern city centers, tropical beaches, ancient ruins, and mystical jungles has made it a favorite backdrop for action blockbusters, television dramas, and prestige series.
Under its wellness-forward campaign “Healing is the New Luxury,” TAT is also spotlighting cultural and restorative travel experiences—many of which provide unique storytelling opportunities for film and television productions seeking authenticity, spirituality, and natural beauty.
With rising demand for unique, production-ready international locations, Thailand’s cinematic potential is accelerating rapidly. AFM attendees walked away from today’s panel with a unified message: Thailand isn’t just a beautiful place to visit—it’s a world-class place to film.
Learn More
Tourism Authority of Thailand: thailandinsider.com
Official TAT News: tatnews.org