A talented young Irish filmmaker and his Czech girlfriend have died in a motorcycle crash in Thailand, eliciting an outpouring of tributes from Ireland's film community.

Max Hendrickson, 20, was praised as one of Ireland's most talented up-and-coming filmmakers.

According to the Irish Independent, Hendrickson, from Cabra in north Dublin, was a second-year student at the National Film School within the Institute of Art, Design and Technology.

His girlfriend also died in the accident. Her name was not given but she was understood to be a Czech national.

There were no details of the crash. The Department of Foreign Affairs did confirm it was providing consular help, but would not comment on individual cases.

His college said it was "greatly saddened and distressed" by the death, describing Hendrickson as a "remarkably talented student". One lecturer called him one of the most "unique and truly brilliant students" to have studied there.

Hendrickson had been making films since he was 12, when he won the Junior Young Filmmaker of the Year award at the Fresh International Film Festival. At 17, he won the senior Young Filmmaker of the Year award.