On 12 November 2024, H.E. Ms. Paetongtarn Shinawatra, the Prime Minister of Thailand, met with Mr. Charles H. Rivkin, Chairman and CEO of the Motion Picture Association (MPA), at a networking reception at the Champagne Room, Beverly Wilshire, A Four Seasons Hotel, Los Angeles, USA. On this occasion, H.E. Mr. Maris Sangiampongsa, Minister of Foreign Affairs, together with Dr. Suriya Chindawongse, the Ambassador of Thailand to the United States, Team Thailand in Los Angeles as well as CEOs and Executives from seven member companies of the MPA, including Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, Paramount Pictures Corporation, Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc., Universal Pictures, Warner Bros. Discovery, Netflix, and Prime Video & Amazon MGM Studios were also present at the reception.
In her welcoming remarks, the Prime Minister emphasized the importance of the creative industry as a critical element of Thailand’s soft power and expressed her desire to deepen cooperation with the United States, a key player in the global film industry. She also highlighted opportunities for collaboration in areas such as screenwriting and film production skills. Reaffirming the Government's commitment to supporting the creative sector, the Prime Minister invited MPA members to consider increasing their investments in film production in Thailand, positioning the country as an attractive filming location.
As part of this initiative, the Prime Minister announced a new cash rebate incentive for foreign film productions, which is set to be approved by the Cabinet. This incentive offers up to a 30 percent cash payback, with no upper limit on available funds. The announcement was warmly received by MPA members, many of whom expressed interest in expanding their collaborations with Thailand. The Prime Minister also highlighted the Government’s ongoing efforts to simplify the registration and licensing process, reaffirming Thailand’s commitment to becoming a top destination for international filmmakers and boosting the film industry’s role in enhancing the country’s tourism visibility.