Pattaya & Chonburi Province · UNESCO Candidacy 2027
City
of Film.
For four decades, Pattaya and Chonburi Province have been the silent stage for the world's most compelling stories. The time has come to step into the frame.
For four decades, Pattaya and Chonburi Province have been the silent stage for the world's most compelling stories. The time has come to step into the frame.
From Oscar-winning productions set in Chonburi's landscapes to global Netflix originals filmed on Pattaya's iconic streets — this province has served as the backdrop for stories seen by hundreds of millions of people worldwide. What it has never had is the institutional recognition to match that reality.
The UNESCO Creative City of Film 2027 candidacy is not an aspiration. It is a formal declaration of what Pattaya already is — backed by documented production history, active infrastructure, a youth filmmaking academy, and six decades of international cinema.
"We do not ask for permission to be a city of film. We present the evidence — and the world sees what was always already there."
These are the productions that prove Pattaya and Chonburi Province belong in the same conversation as established film cities. Every card represents a verified production — confirmed, not claimed.
Location attributions are precise. Where a film used Thailand broadly, it is listed under the Thailand Legacy section below. Only confirmed Pattaya / Chonburi productions appear as primary cards.
The Oscar-winning masterpiece that used Chonburi Province to portray the Cambodian countryside and border regions. One of the most critically acclaimed films in cinema history — and the region's single most powerful international production credit. Winner of three Academy Awards including Best Supporting Actor.
The most-watched non-English series in Netflix history chose Pattaya's Sanctuary of Truth as the setting for the pivotal Tokyo–Professor reunion scene in Season 3. Pattaya's most iconic monument — on one of the world's most watched screens.
This major Hollywood production starring Jason Statham and Jessica Alba chose Pattaya as a key filming location for its high-octane action sequences. The film demonstrates that Pattaya's diverse urban and coastal landscapes can accommodate mainstream Hollywood's demanding technical and logistical requirements at full scale.
Shot entirely in Pattaya, this romantic-action Netflix production topped Thailand's charts upon release. Walking Street, Bali Hai Pier, and Pattaya Beach carry the entire narrative — proving the city can anchor an international streaming identity.
Directed by Nonzee Nimibutr — one of Thailand's most acclaimed filmmakers — this Netflix Original period comedy was filmed in Pattaya in 2022. A signal that Pattaya is the city of choice for prestige Thai streaming production.
Two of Bollywood's major productions — Housefull 2 (2012) and Baar Baar Dekho (2016) — shot extensive sequences along the Chonburi coastline, opening the region to India's 1.4 billion-strong cinema audience.
These productions filmed across Thailand are presented as evidence of the national cinematic infrastructure Pattaya now leads. The UNESCO candidacy builds on this foundation — and goes further.
Every UNESCO Creative City of Film designation rests on three pillars: a documented production history, active cultural infrastructure, and a commitment to the next generation of filmmakers. Pattaya satisfies all three — with evidence, not ambition.
The BESK Youth Filmmaking Academy is Pattaya's private-sector commitment to the UNESCO process. Young Thai filmmakers — including students with disabilities — receive access to RED 8K cinema workflows, directing fundamentals, and the Pattaya to Dubai international co-production exchange. The resulting documentary is co-owned by both cities and distributed internationally.
Support Pattaya's UNESCO Creative City of Film 2027 candidacy. For partnership, sponsorship, or production enquiries, contact the Experience Pattaya City team.
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