Thai cinema kicks baht

Thailand wants to be a film hub

By Veronica Pedrosa in Hong Kong

(CNN) -- Thai cinema has finally come of age, hitting the big screen, big time, across the world.

The success of Thai movies overseas over the past two years -- among them the controversial "Jan Dara" and "Iron Ladies," featuring a transvestite volleyball team -- has sparked interest from film festival organizers around the globe.

While Thailand's movie industry has been around for over one hundred years, it hit a high last year with the release of the most expensive Thai film ever made, "Suriyothai."

Along with stylish ghost story "Nang Nak," "Suriyothai" managed to break the quality barriers that prevent many Thai films from being screened outside the country.

Costing $9 million to make, "Suriyothai" which featured a warrior queen, has grossed $11 million since it was released in Thailand last year.

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It shunted aside the Hollywood action and horror fare that locals have typically queued to see, beating the previous record-holder, "Titanic," which came in at $4.7 million.

Interest in "Suriyothai" was so strong in this Southeast Asian nation that Hollywood summer blockbusters such as Jurassic Park 3 had to be re-scheduled.

Along with "Suriyothai," "Jan Dara","Pee Sam Bath" and "Monrak Transistor" have also raised the pulse of Thai cinema over the past year.

Hopeful ahead

While the Thai movie industry is still strapped for cash, locals are counting on more hits ahead to showcase their films.

"I think next year will also be a big growth for commercial film, there will be 30-40 films compared to about 10 films this year," Chalida Uabumrungjit from the Thai Film Foundation, told CNN.

Thai film director Tanit Jitnukul is doing his bit for the industry

With one eye on local audiences and another firmly fixed on overseas markets, filmmakers are being encouraged to produce quality productions -- forged by a rising interest in Asian cinema during the past five years.

Aditya Assarat is one of the new generation of Thai film makers who is breaking down the barriers between the local and international markets.

As an award winner ten times over for a short film entitled "Motorcycle" that amassed accolades from both the Chicago and San Francisco International Film Festivals, Assarat is enigmatic about the appeal surrounding exotic movie "Thainess".

"I wouldn't want to define what is Thai, I think it's being defined as we go along" Assarat told CNN.

"I think the definition of what is Thai is changing all the time"

Influenced by advertising film techniques, and the ubiquitous presence of MTV, critics and actors are now turning towards movie directing and experimenting with new ways of working film magic.

'Hub'

Along with boosting its own fare, Thailand says it plans to relax its rules to make it easier for international filmmakers to shoot in the country. Just this month the government announced record income from 'foreign filming' last year.

The Thailand Film Office said that 435 international films -- including features, commercials and documentaries -- were shot in 2001, earning the country a record 1.27 billion baht ($29 million).

"Thailand, aspiring to be the hub of foreign film making in the region, will open its doors to welcome filmmakers from Hollywood and other places" such as China and India that have yet to make full use of the country's scenic locations and excellent facilities, the office said in a statement.

The number of feature films made doubled from 29 in 2000 to 59 in 2001, the office said, while the number of commercial advertisements increased from 167 to 184.