The Bangkok International Film Festival was first held in 2003 and was organized by Nation Multimedia Group in cooperation with the Tourism Authority of Thailand, or TAT.

Before 2003, the Nation Group had organized the Bangkok Film Festival (note, no "international" in the title), first held in 1998.

Such celebrities as Catherine Deneuve, Jeremy Irons, Michael Douglas, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Steven Seagal, Bai Ling, Christopher Lee, Oliver Stone, Terry Gilliam and Joel Schumacher were flown to Bangkok to attend the festivals, and were present for such events as red carpet-festooned opening ceremonies, cocktail parties and awards banquets.

[8] In December 2007, the United States Department of Justice arrested Gerald and Patricia Green, the owners of Festival Management.

In late February 2008, the website of the TAT announced that the 2008 Bangkok International Film Festival would be held in July.

Seeks to present the best films from the past year from ASEAN countries: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

Each year, the festival offers a glimpse into the life and career of its honored film personalities, including directors, actors, and technicians, through a selection of what the organizers consider their finest cinematic moments.