Bangkok International Content Market deals top $65 million in debut
BICM2026 closed its first Bangkok edition with THB2.2 billion in estimated business and plans for a second run.
By Poppy Nakagawa · Culture Writer
3 min read
Bangkok International Content Market deals reached an estimated THB2.2 billion, or $65.5 million, during the event’s first edition, Variety reported, giving Thailand’s new content marketplace a brisk opening act.
The 2026 market, known as BICM2026, ran earlier this month at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center in Bangkok. Variety reported that the event was organized by Thailand’s Creative Economy Agency under the Thailand Content Market 2026 banner.
More than 600 people attended, according to Variety, with content companies, production studios, distributors and streaming platforms represented from Thailand and overseas. The programming covered film, television series and production services.
What is Bangkok International Content Market?
Bangkok International Content Market is Thailand’s first purpose-built international marketplace for screen content, according to Variety. It is designed to connect content owners, buyers, investors and production partners for licensing, adaptation rights, co-productions and related business.
The market’s main business matching program produced more than 1,200 one-on-one meetings, Variety reported. Those talks led to deals covering licensing, adaptation-rights acquisitions and international co-production agreements.
BICM2026 also set up regional links with QCinema International Film Festival in the Philippines, JAFF Market in Indonesia, Taiwan Creative Content Fest and the Danang Asian Film Festival in Vietnam, according to Variety.
The Creative Economy Agency framed those partnerships as part of Thailand’s bid to act as a gateway to ASEAN, a region the agency described as having more than 700 million consumers.
Which projects won at BICM2026?
The market also hosted a pitching competition backed by White Light Studio, Kantana Sound Studio, Gear Head and QCinema International Film Festival, Variety reported. More than 55 production-ready projects took part.
The $10,000 Asian Project Pitching prize went to “Honey Milk,” a Taiwanese feature directed by Chien Yu Lin and produced by Man Yin Tseng.
The $5,000 Thai Project Pitching award went to “The Mining,” a feature by Woottidanai Intarakaset and writer Chanikarn Opaspimoltum.
The $5,000 Thai Story Pitching prize went to “The Kindness of Miss Ari,” produced by Pinyada Poommek and written by Chalermpong Udomsilp.
Industry forums and workshops also drew strong attendance, Variety reported. Sessions on regional content formats, foreign production incentives and government support for Thai filmmaking were among the better-attended parts of the program.
Nalina Chayasombat, executive producer at Jungka Studio, told Variety that the market helped her company meet new firms, creators and potential partners. She said Jungka was looking for fresh ways of working and creative teams that could grow and reach broader audiences.
Chakrit Pichyangkul, executive director of the Creative Economy Agency, told Variety that the first BICM showed Thailand had needed a dedicated marketplace for its content business. He said the agency wants to turn BICM into an annual international event and help Thai creators own higher-value intellectual property.
The Creative Economy Agency confirmed plans for a second edition, Variety reported, with the next run expected to build on the partnerships and deal activity created by the debut market.
This story draws on original reporting from Variety.