The renewal of the Bangkok International Film Festival (BKKIFF) will advance in September and open along with the world premiere of Thai horror The Whisper of Death 3.
The last festival in 2009 will be held from September 27th to October 15th, along with industry platforms Bangkok Film and Content Market. This marks nearly four months since his original appearance in mid-January 2026.
Bkkiff was revived by a new organizational team under the Ministry of Culture and Thai Creative Culture Agency (THACCA), with the support of Thailand’s Ministry of Cultural Promotion (DCP). The latest details first announced in Cannes in May were outlined at a press conference held today (August 18th) in Wang Bangkok, Thailand’s capital.
The festival will be the largest film festival in Southeast Asia, according to Donsaron Kovitvaniycha, director and artistic director of the Bkkiff Festival, which has won over 200 titles from over 40 countries and is also a member of the Thacca subcommittee. The lineup includes a competition section of features and shorts, as well as panel discussions with over 70 film teams.
Apart from public screenings, the industry platform hosts over 50 market stands from Thai film producers and industry practitioners. Plus, highlights include Asian project pitching and Thai project pitching, which will award prizes from the $25,000 pool.
The festival is scheduled for its first two days on September 27th, and the ceremony will be held at ICONSIAM’s Pinnacle Hall on September 29th. The Whisper of Death 3 (also known as Tiyodo 3 locally and in some areas).
Produced by M Studio, The whispers of death It has emerged as a hit franchise over the past two years. The first two films won $15.2 million (THB510M) and $24.7 million (THB825M) at the Thai box office respectively.
“Choosing Tiyodo 3 The opening film is a powerful symbol of the possibility that Thai films will shine on the world stage, so the festival not only inspires people in the industry, but also creates international economic opportunities for Thai films and enhances soft power around the world. ”
Thailand’s leading film chains will support the festival at screening venues, including Major Cineplex, Sci-Fi Cinema, House Samian and Lido Connect.
“The film industry is one of the central elements of Thailand’s soft power. It communicates strongly to our story, lifestyle, culture and global audiences,” said Dr. Supon Soubun-Lee, assistant policy advisor to Prime Minister and Chair of the National Soft Power Development Committee. He also chairs the organising committee at Bkkiff.
“Bkkiff is reopened under the concept of “power in cooperation.” This reflects our belief that success must be built through the cooperation of government, the private sector, artists, creators and the public. ”
He highlighted the vision of positioning Bangkok as a hub for Southeast Asian cinema and contemporary culture, and a global encounter point for filmmakers and investors.
“Our goal is not only to make Bangkok an international filmmaker’s destination, but 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 enhance Thai filmmakers’ access to the global platform.”
The first Bangkok Film Festival was held in 1998, when the Thai Tourism Bureau (TAT) took over as organizers and rebranded the Bangkok International Film Festival in 2003.
In the last three editions of the bribery scandal in December 2007, Thailand’s National Film Association Federation intervened as organizers along with TAT.
(TagStoTRASSLATE)Asia (T)Festival (T)Thailand
