CEA Content Lab 2026
CEA Content Lab 2026 is a project designed to develop and strengthen film, series, and animation projects, with the goal of elevating Thai content to compete in the international market. The project is organized by the Creative Economy Agency (Public Organization) or CEA, and marks the fourth consecutive year of the initiative, building on the success of CEA Content Lab 2023 - 2025. The project aims to drive growth within Thailand’s Creative Content & Media industry, enhancing the competitiveness of Thai creators while enabling their work to reach broader global audiences.
In 2025, CEA Content Lab 2025 created business opportunities for 54 projects, including projects developed within the program and works from industry professionals participating in the Content Project Market. Film, series, and animation projects were presented to more than 79 production companies from Thailand and abroad, resulting in over 409 business matching sessions. These opportunities helped pave the way for many projects to further develop toward commercial production.
For 2026, CEA Content Lab 2026 continues to strengthen Thailand’s content development ecosystem through four key programs designed to support creators at different stages of their professional journey. The programs span film, series, and animation, aiming to elevate the quality of Thai content, increase global competitiveness, and drive sustainable growth in both domestic and international markets.
CEA Content Lab 2026: Four Content Development Programs
The project features four incubation and development programs, running between February - August 2026, including:
(1) Newcomers
A project development program for emerging filmmakers and series creators
(2) Mid-Career: Project
A program to elevate film and series projects for industry professionals
(3) Mid-Career: Story
A script development program for professional screenwriters
(4) Master Class
An intensive short-term training program for film, series, and animation creators
Follow updates about CEA Content Lab 2026 on Facebook via CEA and CEA Content Lab
Newcomers
A project and foundational skill development program for emerging creators in film and series production. The program aims to strengthen participants’ understanding of the project development process from the early stages, while providing practical knowledge that can be applied to building a professional career in the content industry.
The program is open to creators from across Thailand, applying as teams of three members. Applicants can choose to participate in one of two locations: Nakhon Pathom and Songkhla. Each location will select 12 teams, for a total of 24 teams, all bringing film or series project ideas to be developed within the program.
Participants will develop their projects through a 6-day intensive workshop and incubation program at their chosen location. Selected teams will also have the opportunity to receive project development grants, including:
- First Prize: THB 30,000 (3 awards per location)
- Honorable Mention: THB 5,000 (2 awards per location)
Eligibility
- University students aged 20 or above, or professionals with 0 - 4 years of work experience
- Individuals interested in developing film or series projects and pursuing a professional career in the content industry
Application Format
Apply as a team of 3 members
Open Call
9 March - 12 April 2026
Workshop
- Nakhon Pathom: 31 May - 5 June 2026
- Songkhla: 14 - 19 June 2026
Mid-Career: Project
A project development program for mid-career professionals with at least five years of experience in the content industry. Creators are invited to form a Creative Team of three members and submit film or series projects currently in development.
Participants will receive intensive mentorship from industry experts through specialized classes and development activities designed to strengthen storytelling, narrative structure, and project potential. The program aims to prepare projects for both domestic and international markets.
After the intensive training phase, 18 selected teams will present their projects to a panel of judges for a chance to receive Pilot Video development grants worth THB 150,000 per project, with 10 grants available.
In addition, selected teams will have the opportunity to pitch their projects at the Bangkok International Content Market (BICM), part of the Thailand Content Market (TCM) — the largest content marketplace in Thailand. The event is organized through a collaboration between CEA and the Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP) and will take place from 20 - 22 July 2026 at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center (QSNCC). This platform provides participants with the opportunity to meet and engage in business matching with producers, investors, streaming platforms, and industry partners from Thailand and around the world, helping advance projects toward further development and potential commercial production.
Eligibility
- Bachelor’s degree or higher and at least 21 years old
- Apply as a team of 3 members
- At least one team member must have a minimum of five years of professional experience in the film or series industry
- Must have at least two credited works (excluding student projects)
Application Format
Apply as a team of 3 members
Open Call
3 January - 3 February 2026
Workshop
14 February - 5 April 2026
Pilot Video Development & Final Pitching
April - June 2026
Mid-Career: Story
A script development program for professional screenwriters seeking to elevate their storytelling skills and bring their work to an international standard. The program focuses on developing high-quality film and series scripts that are ready for commercial development in the content industry.
Applicants with scriptwriting experience may apply individually or as a two-person team, submitting film or series scripts currently in development. Selected participants will join an incubation process featuring workshops and consultations with industry experts to strengthen their scripts and prepare them for the content marketplace.
Finalists will also have the opportunity to pitch their projects at the Bangkok International Content Market (BICM), part of the Thailand Content Market (TCM) — the largest content marketplace in Thailand. The event is organized through a collaboration between CEA and the Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP) and will take place from 20 - 22 July 2026 at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center (QSNCC). This platform provides participants with the opportunity to meet and engage in business matching with producers, investors, streaming platforms, and industry partners from Thailand and around the world, helping advance projects toward further development and potential commercial production.
Eligibility
- Bachelor’s degree or higher and at least 21 years old (born in 2005 or earlier)
- Must have at least two professional scriptwriting credits
Application Format
Apply individually or as a team of 2 members
Open Call
1 December 2025 - 30 January 2026
Workshop
7 March - 16 May 2026
Script Development & Final Pitching
May - July 2026
Master Class
An intensive short-term training program designed for creators working in film, series, and animation who wish to upskill and expand their professional capabilities in the content industry. Participants will learn directly from experienced industry professionals. For CEA Content Lab 2026, three Master Class programs will be offered, each designed to address key skills needed by today’s content creators.
1. Master Class: Animation Storytelling
An in-depth training program for creators who already have character concepts and story ideas they want to develop further. Participants will explore the process of character creation and development, including designing character arcs and structuring narratives to elevate their ideas into animation projects with professional potential.
Eligibility
- Animation developers, game developers, character designers, or character owners
- Must have a character and story idea ready for development
- Apply as a team of 2 - 3 members
Open Call
More details will be announced in March 2026.
Workshop
5 sessions in May 2026
2. Master Class: Thai BL & GL Go Global
A training program for professionals working in the production of BL (Boys’ Love – series portraying romantic relationships between male characters) and GL (Girls’ Love – series portraying romantic relationships between female characters). The program focuses on strengthening both content development and production processes to enhance quality and expand opportunities for Thai BL and GL series to reach international audiences.
More details will be announced in April 2026.
3. Master Class: Business Negotiation for Content Industry
A training program designed to strengthen business negotiation and project pitching skills for creators in the film, series, and animation sectors. The program prepares participants to navigate content sales, partnerships, and commercial opportunities in the professional content marketplace.
More details will be announced in May 2026.