Bangkok (Thailand) – September 26, 2017 (travelindex.com) – Thailand will host the leading marketplace for documentary films, Asian Side of the Doc, in Bangkok for the second year running from January 30 to February 2, 2018.

The Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP) positions the 8th edition of the ASD as a strategic platform to promote the documentary film industry in order to achieve the goals of Thailand 4.0, a new economic model that aims to free the country from the middle-income trap and establish it as an actor in the smart, innovative and value-added sector.

The Thai film industry, which is seen as an important economic driver for achieving the goals of Industry 4.0, has set itself the goal of promoting creativity, expanding culture and providing high-quality services, as well as improving the country's competitiveness in the regional context.

“Government film funding focuses on expanding production capacity. Policy supports a proactive film business and creates networking opportunities in national and international markets,” said Viwan Karnasut, Managing Director of MAXIMAGE Company Limited and Head of the ASD18 Organizing Committee. “Part of the strategy is supporting activities such as international film festivals and marketplaces that provide a business platform for filmmakers, distributors, and investors worldwide.”

To support the government's efforts, the Thailand Documentary Filmmakers Association (TDFA) was established to enhance competitiveness and promote Thailand as a hub for international and regional documentary filmmakers, as a marketplace and venue for major industry events such as the ASD.

ASD is presented by the organizers of Sunny Side of the Doc (SSD), Europe's largest documentary film market. Founded by Oscar-winning French film producer Yves Jeanneau, SSD has been held in La Rochelle, France, for 28 years and attracts over 2,000 visitors annually.

Recognizing the potential of the documentary film market in Asia, ASD was founded in 2010 as a parallel documentary film marketplace for the region.

The conference has since been held annually in various Asian countries: China, Hong Kong, South Korea, Japan, Malaysia, and Singapore. The 7th edition of the ASD took place in Thailand last year and attracted over 400 participants.

The ASD, which is recognized worldwide as an important platform for promoting Asian documentaries, generated estimated minimum revenues of 160 million baht.

Due to its success, the organizers broke with tradition and decided to return to Thailand for a second year in a row.

The decision to return to Thailand for the 8th edition of the ASD was based on Thailand's willingness in terms of supporting facilities, the diversity of destinations, and the professionalism of the Thai documentary film industry.

The event will take place from January 30th to February 2nd, 2018 at the Centara Grand in Central Plaza Ladprao, Bangkok. Over 500 participants, including producers, directors, distributors, key decision-makers, investors, and consultants from 40 countries, will gather at ASD18 over four days. They can expect distribution opportunities, networking, award-winning pitching sessions, conferences, and the added value of individual meetings with key buyers from Asia and beyond.

As part of the preliminary events, an ASD documentary film workshop with masterclass took place from September 19th to 22nd, in which documentary film producers and directors gained insights into the development of documentary film projects.

The international experts and trainers who provided insights during the masterclass included Christian Popp – co-founder of YUZU Productions in France, Esther van Messel – CEO of First Hand Films Switzerland; and Pailin Wedel, a Thai-American journalist and filmmaker who won the Best ASEAN Prize at ASD16.

A total of 38 documentary film projects from seven countries were submitted to the ASD jury. They selected ten projects for the workshop, seven of which were from Thai producers. During the workshop, six projects were chosen for the final presentation. The winner will pitch on the main stage at ASD18. “ASD18 will increase the value of documentary film. In addition to the revenue generated by the professional event, it is an important platform for networking, brand building, knowledge exchange, and, above all, for positioning Thailand as a hub for the documentary film industry across Asia. We expect this professional event to generate at least 200 million baht in revenue,” said Ms. Viwan Karnasut.

Among the most important producers and broadcasters of international documentary and factual programs represented at ASD18 are National Geographic, Discovery Asia, NHK, CCTV, KBS, ABC, PBS, ThaiPBS and other Thai broadcasters.

The “Asian Side of the Doc Bangkok 2018” is supported by the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB), a government organization. The TCEB's mission is to attract international events to Thailand. For this event, the TCEB provides financial support and coordinates cooperation with other government agencies. The “Asian Side of the Doc Bangkok 2018” is considered one of the most important events that will strengthen Thailand's position as a leading MICE destination in the region.

For further information, please contact: Ms. Ladawan Sondak (Kung), Email: [email protected], Tel.: 089-200-1918; PR Coordinator Ms. Arpaporn (A), Tel.: 089 788 4868; Ms. Thitiya (Jang), Tel.: 094 323 5641, Email: [email protected]