Five Thai Films Chase Global Audiences at Cannes
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- Gohan, GDH 559's three-director stray-dog drama, has sold to more than 40 territories and premiered at Italy's Far East Film Festival, with producer Baz Poonpiriya attributing its resonance to emotion rather than language or location.
- God Skin, Jungka Studios' martial arts action film directed by Paween Purijitpanya, is set for Thai release on August 27 and targets Gen Z with a video-gaming visual style, according to producer Surawut Tungkarak.
- 9 Temples To Heaven, produced by Kissada Kamyoung through Apichatpong Weerasethakul's Kick The Machine, is a Directors Fortnight selection assembled over nine years with co-producers from eight countries, including French DoP Jonathan Ricquebourg (The Taste of Things).
- Possessed from Taibaan Studios, a horror film scheduled for Thai release May 21, marks the studio's pivot from its Isaan-region roots toward global accessibility, with director Kasidej Sundarajun saying they softened the local flavor 'like making Thai food a bit less spicy.'
- 1 After One from Transformation Films is a co-production with Taiwan's GrX Studio and Lots Home Entertainment, with Taiwanese partners seeking Thai genre filmmaking expertise because Thai films perform well in Taiwan.
- The panel, held in association with Thailand's Department of Cultural Promotion and the Thai Film Directors Association, also addressed Thai box office dynamics, government funding access, and creative challenges facing the industry.
Why it matters: Thai producers are simultaneously deploying very different export models—mainstream martial arts with Gen Z visuals (God Skin), a nine-year eight-country arthouse co-production (9 Temples To Heaven), and a Taiwan-backed horror (1 After One)—with GDH 559's Gohan already proving the model works by landing in 40+ territories through emotion-driven storytelling rather than language or location.
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