• A WEEK-LONG CELEBRATION OF FILM, FOOD AND CULTURE - AUGUST 23-30, 2026 - PATTAYA, CHON BURI, THAILAND • CO-HOSTED BY THE TOURISM AUTHORITY OF THAILAND •

Join us in sunny, amazing Thailand for the inaugural edition of the official 2026 Pattaya International Film Festival! We're re-booting from the legacy of our previous, regional Pattaya Film Festival, aspiring to become one of Southeast Asia's landmark annual events.

Our festival especially seeks to recognize films that celebrate the vitality of our world's heritage reflected in the vibrant city of Pattaya, including horror films, culinary, LGBTQ+ (identity), animation, documentary, action/sport, ocean-related and narrative excellence among others.

All "Official Selection" films will be shown for at least one in-person screening at one of the following venues: one of two SFX cinema locations in Pattaya or the world famous Tiffany's Show (500 seat capacity) for the Opening Night Gala. Additional venues may be announced.

The Opening Gala will feature attendance by many top luminaries and representatives of the Thai film community. A full orchestra will perform onstage, while legendary Thai actress Patravadi 'Lek' Mejudhon, star of The White Lotus, will receive a Lifetime Achievement Award. Other special guests and special awards to be announced as determined.

During festival week, immediately after each block of genre films, any attending filmmakers will be invited on stage to take part in short Q&A sessions with attendees at their respective screening venue. (One representative per film, space pending.)

Many events will be paired with TBA culinary and cultural events celebrating the region and heritage of the world.

We welcome films across multiple genres in short (under 40 minute) and full length run times.

Our jury consists of multiple Academy Award and EMMY Award-winning judges from the fields of animation, music video and documentary genres. See our website www.ptyiff.com for more information.

Awards & Prizes

All OFFICIAL SELECTION films will be shown for in-person screening during the festival run. Attending OFFICIAL SELECTION filmmakers will be given two all-access passes for the festival. This will include seats at the Opening Gala and invitation to walk the Purple Carpet at Tiffany's Show.

AWARDS:
One film in each category will be awarded with "BEST" status with special laurels.

TOP PRIZE AWARDS:
In addition to the "BEST" winners, the festival plans special awards to recognize the following exceptional achievements:
• SPECIAL JURY AWARD
• AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARD
• ADDITIONAL AWARDS FROM CO-SPONSORS MAY BE GIVEN TBA

All attending filmmakers will be eligible for two tickets to the exclusive Opening Night Gala after-party.

A panel discussion by a TBA roster of filmmakers and a filmmaker's mixer will be announced as the final notification date approaches with dates and venues.

A limited number of discounts for accommodations at area hotels will be available. Please contact us for details of these deals. (The film festival does not pay a stipend for any travel or accommodations of attending filmmakers.)

Rules & Terms

​​RULES AND GUIDELINES FOR 2026 SUBMISSIONS

The following is an explanation of the Rules and Guidelines governing film submissions to the 2026 Pattaya International Film Festival. Compliance with these Rules and Guidelines is necessary in order to participate in the Film Festival. Submission of a film implies unconditional acceptance of the Rules & Guidelines, therefore, please carefully read through the Rules prior to submitting your film. If you have any questions, please contact the Pattaya International Film Festival: info@ptyiff.com

SELECTION DECISIONS
All selection decisions will be made by July 15, 2026. Filmmakers will be notified directly whether or not their film has been selected on or before this date. Successful entrants will receive detailed instructions regarding deliverables. Decisions of the judges are final.

WITHDRAWLS
Once a submitted film has been designated an OFFICIAL SELECTION, it cannot be withdrawn from festival screening.

*** PTYIFF does not pay screening fees for selected films ***

1. The Pattaya International Film Festival accepts submissions for films in the following categories:

Features and Shorts Films (under 40 minutes) in the categories: Narrative, Animated, Documentary, Music Video and student.

2. The Entrant/s submitting the film must hold all legal rights for the submission, as well as all necessary clearances for public exhibition. The Pattaya International Film Festival is not responsible for any claim involving copyright, trademark, credits, or royalty infringement related to the work.

3. The Filmmaker/s retain/s all submission and intellectual property rights.

4. To be eligible for top awards, selected films must not have played in person in Thailand or online in the country of Thailand. Exceptions are made for the music video category. Please contact PTYIFF office with any questions.

5. Films must be submitted electronically via FilmFreeway.

6. The Filmmaker/s is/are responsible for making sure all submission materials are submitted by the submission deadline indicated. If your film is not uploaded or viewable by the date you have registered, you may be withdrawn from consideration.

7. Each submission must be accompanied by the appropriate fee. Submission fees are in U.S. Dollars per submission and are non-refundable. All payments are made through FilmFreeway.

8. Subtitles must be in English.

9. Please keep screener links and passwords up-to-date and notify PTYIFF promptly with any changes. Please test your media prior to submission to make sure they run properly and are not damaged.

10. Filmmakers are allowed to submit more than one film for the Festival provided that each film is submitted separately and meets PTYIFF guidelines.

11. An individual film needs to be submitted only once in one category. If the judges deem a film fits better in a different category, they will move it accordingly. Entering multiple categories is not necessary and will not improve a film's chances of being selected.

12. A student submitting a film must provide a photocopy of a current and valid student ID or a letter from his/her school verifying enrollment.

13. Filmmakers can check their status through the FilmFreeway website.

14. All personal contact information is to remain confidential and not to be shared with any third party marketing purposes.

15. PTYIFF reserves the right to use images and up to 30 seconds of video from films selected in the Festival for marketing and promotional purposes.

16. All decisions regarding award winners are considered final and incontestable.

17. All competitive films submitted must have been completed between September 2024 and June 15, 2026.

18. This is a festival celebrating the best of the legacy, creativity and human labor of filmmaking. As such, films generated by extensive AI will not be considered for inclusion. Excessively crude, graphic and sexually explicit material of a pornographic nature will also not be considered. These determinations are made at the discretion of judges.

19. All films will be viewed from start to finish by at least one of our staff, viewers or jury.

20. We strive to curate our lineup from submitted films, along with invited titles in collaboration with filmmakers, studios and distributors.

21. Applicants acknowledge that PTYIFF reserves the right to change the nature of screenings and events due to circumstances related to public health and welfare or at the direction of Thai governmental authorities. In such cases, no submission refunds shall be issued.