Thailand Entertainment Expo set for September 16 to 20

The second Thailand Entertainment Expo will be held from September 16 to 20 in Bangkok in Siam Paragon's Royal Paragon Hall, offering a chance for face-to-face interaction with just about every facet of the Thai entertainment industry.

Film studios, music labels, TV and radio broadcasters, location agents, equipment rental, production companies, modeling and talent agencies, animation and gaming companies will all be there, handing out brochures and ready to talk about doing business.

Last year's inaugural event had 147 companies participating, and according to the organizer, the Ministry of Commerce's Department of Export Promotion, it attracted 16,800 local and international visitors and generated deals worth US$79 million in trade and investment.

This year, the doors will be open to tradespeople only from September 16 to 18 and for the public on September 19 and 20.

The Expo's dates were initially announced during this year's Cannes Film Festival as September 10 to 20. So not sure if that was a misprint or if the festival has been scaled back.

Unlike last year, notes Patrick Frater in The Hollywood Reporter, the Expo is not being held at the same time as the Bangkok International Film Festival, which runs from September 24 to 30.

And I think that's a good thing. Lure the industry players here a week before the film festival with the Entertainment Expo, and give them four days to hang out, relax, play golf, visit spas or do whatever before hitting the BKKIFF. In my own experience, I was always too busy seeing films at the film fest to head down to the film market or expo.

(Via The Hollywood Reporter, PR Newswire)