Pattaya Holds Film Festival In Bid To Become Creative UNESCO City

PATTAYA, THAILAND - AUGUST 22: People walk along Pattaya Walking Street, one of the filming location for Pattaya Heat, one of the locally produced films featured in the Pattaya Film Festival on August 22, 2024 in Pattaya, Thailand. The Pattaya Film Festival is part of its bid to become a UNESCO Creative City, aiming to shift its focus from nightlife to cultural industries. The festival, which engaged the local Pattaya community with film, is another part of Thailand's "soft power" strategy to promote the country abroad. The Thai government aims to promote the country as a filming location for international film and TV productions, as well as support and boost the global recognition of Thai films and directors. (Photo by Lauren DeCicca/Getty Images)