Pattaya Announces International Film Festival 2026 Under Theme “The Cinematic Wave Coming Later This Month!
PATTAYA, August 11th, 2026 – Damrongkiat Pinijkan, Deputy Mayor of Pattaya City, joined Pornchai Wong Sriudomporn, Secretary-General of the National Federation of Film Associations; filmmaker Nonzee Nimibutr and representatives from the Thai Film Directors Association; director Pongpat Wachirabanchong; screenwriter and television writer Dr. Sorarat Chiraborwornwisut; and actor Ken Phupoom Phongphanuphak at a press conference announcing the Pattaya International Film Festival 2026.
The event took place at MONO Studio and drew strong attendance from government and private-sector executives, film directors, actors, artists, and other professionals from the film industry.
Organized under the concept “THE CINEMATIC WAVE,” the festival will run from August 22nd to the 30th, 2026. Organizers want to harness cinema as a driving force for arts and culture, tourism, investment, and the creative economy. The initiative also seeks to position Pattaya as a destination for international film festivals and to support its goal of becoming a UNESCO Creative City of Film.
Deputy Mayor Damrongkiat said Pattaya is working toward becoming a creative city of film and culture by using creativity as a key mechanism for urban development. He described film as a soft power capable of conveying identity, inspiring people, and connecting audiences worldwide while generating economic, tourism, and investment opportunities.
“The Pattaya International Film Festival 2026 is more than a film festival,” he said. “It is a platform for exchanging knowledge, culture, and innovation in cinema. It opens opportunities for filmmakers, investors, tourists, and businesses to participate in driving Thailand’s creative industries.”
He noted that Pattaya has coordinated with partners including the Chonburi Provincial Cultural Office, the Designated Areas for Sustainable Tourism Administration (DASTA), the Tourism Authority of Thailand, the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB), the National Federation of Film Associations, the Thai Film Directors Association, and private-sector organizations to elevate the local film industry and creative economy.
The program will feature film screenings, talks with directors and industry professionals, training sessions and workshops, a short film competition, film-related exhibitions, a Behind the Scenes Film Production Showcase demonstrating and simulating film shoots, and outdoor screenings.
Key features include the opening ceremony, red carpet, and awards ceremony on August 28th, 2026, at the Colosseum Show Pattaya. More than 70 awards will recognize outstanding works and individuals in the film and content industries. The ceremony will be broadcast live via Facebook Live on MONOMAX starting at 6:00 p.m.
The festival will also present the Pattaya Top Talk About Content Award, which reflects digital-era content popularity based on social listening data, platform engagement, audience votes, and media impact. Eligible categories include films, OTT series, BL and GL series, and sports content, showing the diversity and potential of Thailand’s entertainment industry.
Free film screenings will be available from August 22 to 30 at the cinema in Central Pattaya, with additional activities held across the city. Organizers intend for the events to create opportunities for the public, tourists, creators, and industry operators to meet, exchange knowledge, and build networks.
Pattaya City invites residents, tourists, film enthusiasts, entrepreneurs, and industry professionals to take part in the Pattaya International Film Festival 2026 from August 22nd to the 30th. Participants can experience an international film festival while supporting Thai soft power and helping advance sustainable tourism and the creative economy in Pattaya.
Further details are available on Facebook at Pattaya FILM Festival.
