The relaunch of Bangkok International Film Festival (BKKIFF) has been pulled forward to September and is set to open with the world premiere of Thai horror Death Whisperer 3.
The festival, last held in 2009, will return from September 27 to October 15 alongside industry platform the Bangkok Film and Content Market, set to take place October 2-5. This moves the event up nearly four months from its original berth of mid-January 2026.
BKKIFF has been revived by a new organising team with the support of Thailand’s Department of Cultural Promotion (DCP) under the Ministry of Culture and Thailand Creative Culture Agency (THACCA). First announced at Cannes in May, the latest details were outlined at a press event held at One Bangkok in the Thai capital today (August 18).
The festival will feature more than 200 titles from over 40 countries, making it the largest film festival in Southeast Asia, according to BKKIFF festival director and artistic director Donsaron Kovitvaniycha, who is also a THACCA subcommittee member. The lineup will include competition sections for features and shorts as well as panel discussions with more than 70 film teams.
Aside from public screenings, the industry platform will host more than 50 market stands from Thai film producers and industry practitioners. Further highlights will include Asian Project Pitching and Thai Project Pitching, which will award prizes from a pool of $25,000.
While the festival is set to start on September 27 with screenings scheduled for the first two days, the opening ceremony will be held on September 29 at Pinnacle Hall, ICONSIAM, with the world premiere of the highly anticipated Death Whisperer 3 (also known as Tee Yod 3 locally and in some territories).
Produced by M Studio, Death Whisperer has emerged as a hit franchise in the last two years. The first two films earned $15.2m (thb510m) and $24.7m (thb825m) respectively at the Thai box office, with the second feature rising to become the biggest Thai film of all time.
“The selection of Tee Yod 3 as the opening film is a powerful symbol of the potential of Thai cinema to shine on the world stage,” said Donsaron. “This festival will not only inspire those in the industry, but also generate international economic opportunities for Thai cinema, strengthening our soft power globally.”
Thailand’s major cinema chains will support the festival with screening venues, including Major Cineplex, SF Cinema, House Samyan, and Lido Connect.
“The film industry is one of the core elements of Thailand’s soft power. It powerfully conveys our stories, ways of life, culture, and creativity to global audiences,” said Dr. Surapong Suebwonglee, deputy policy advisor to the prime minister and chairman of the National Soft Power Development Committee. He also serves as chairman of BKKIFF’s organising committee.
“BKKIFF is being relaunched under the concept of ‘Power in Collaboration’, which reflects our belief that success must be built through the cooperation of government, the private sector, artists, creators, and the public.”
He emphasised the vision of positioning Bangkok as a hub for film and contemporary culture in Southeast Asia, as well as a global meeting point for filmmakers and investors.
“Our goal is not only to make Bangkok a destination for international filmmakers, but also to create a platform for Thai talent to develop skills, exchange experiences, and collaborate with global creators,” he added. “This integration of cooperation, knowledge-sharing, and intellectual property protection will strengthen Thai filmmakers’ access to global platforms.”
The first Bangkok Film Festival took place 1998 before the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) took over as organiser and rebranded it Bangkok International Film Festival in 2003.
The Federation of National Film Associations of Thailand stepped in as organiser, along with TAT, for the last three editions when a bribery scandal broke out in December 2007. The last edition of the festival took place in 2009 as the 2010 edition was cancelled due to budgetary issues.
No comments yet