My favourite Thai filmmakers
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Apichatpong Weerasethakul (b. 1970, Bangkok) grew up in Khon Kaen, a city in the north east of Thailand. He has a degree in Architecture from Khon Kaen University and a Master of Fine Arts in Filmmaking from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago. He has been making films and videos since the early 90s. He is one of the few filmmakers in Thailand who have worked outside the strict Thai studio system. In his films, he experiments with certain elements found in the dramatic plot structure of Thai television and radio programs, comics and old films. He finds his inspiration in small towns around the country. In his work, he often uses non-professional actors and improvised dialogue in exploring the shifting boundaries between documentary and fiction.
In 2000, he completed his first feature, Mysterious Object at Noon (2000), a documentary that has been screened at many international festivals and received enthusiastic reviews and awards as well as being listed among the best films of the year 2000 by Film Comment and the Village Voice. He is active in promoting experimental and independent films through Kick the Machine, the company he founded in 1999. He is currently working on several video projects and a new feature, Tropical Malady.- Director
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Pen-Ek studied from 1977 to 1985 in New York at the Pratt Institute and worked as freelance illustrator and designer with Designframe Incorporate. In Thailand he worked for five years as art director, before making his début with Fun Bar Karaoke, that was screened at many festivals after its première in Berlin.- Producer
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Prachya Pinkaew was born on 2 September 1962. He is a producer and director, known for Ong-Bak: The Thai Warrior (2003), The Protector (2005) and Chocolate (2008).- Actor
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Panna Rittikrai is the man behind Thai action star Tony Jaa, whose work in Ong-Bak, astounded viewers across the globe. Panna Rittikrai was born in the small village of Khon Kaen in Thailand. At a young age, he was a fan of martial arts films and he knew it would be his dream to become involved in the martial arts industry. During his college years, he formed his own stunt team, the Seng Stunt Team, which would consist of 20 members. In 1978, he made his first film, Gerd Ma Lui (aka Born to Fight). The film showcased the stunt work of Rittikrai and his stunt team. The film would go on to influence a young Thai kid named Panom Yeerum, whom we now know as Tony Jaa.
Rittikrai has made over 50 low budgeted but stunt-filled films. He gained recognition throughout the world after the success of Ong-Bak in 2003. He also directed a remake/new version of his first film, Kerd ma lui (Born to Fight), starring Thai national athletes and another one of his protégés, Chupong Changprung (aka Dan Chupong). Rittikrai recently worked with Tony Jaa on Tom Yum Goong and has other projects lined up as he is now an internationally-known action director.- Director
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Ratana Pestonji was born on 22 May 1908 in Bangkok, Thailand. She was a director and producer, known for Prae dum (1961), Sugar Is Not Sweet (1965) and Hell Hotel (1957). She died on 17 August 1970 in Bangkok, Thailand.- Director
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Yukoi, also known as Tan Mui, is paving the way for a whole new genre of film. His latest release, The Legend of Suriyothai (2001), is Thailand's first big budget blockbuster film as well as one of its most highly anticipated. Breaking new ground in cinema has been a way of life for the son of 35 mm pioneers His Royal Highness Anusornmongkolkarn and MOM Ubon Yuko Na Ayudhya. Tan Mui has been involved in film since the time he was born, November 29, 1942. His parents were co-founders of the Lavo Pappayon Company that was apart of the family's daily life up until Tan Mui was sent to Australia for schooling. He next moved to the USA where he received a degree in geology from UCLA. His minor was in film studies, sharing the classroom with directors Francis Ford Coppola and Roman Polanski. He completed his work in the US by interning with the famous film producer, 'Merian Cooper'. When he returned to his native Thailand he began working for his father right away. Breaking away and trying to make it on his own, he took to writing and directing TV dramas like Ying Gor Mee Hua Jai (Women Have a Heart too), Hong Si Chompu (The Pink Room), and Mor Bhi (Ghost Speller). His feature film debut came when he headed the Mun Ma Kab Kwam Mued (It Comes with the Darkness) in 1972. His follow up, Chue Karn (His Name is Karn) earning him a nod for the award for Best Director in Thailand. His success continued as he released at least a film a year until 1979. Yet he continues to be one of the most important directors in Thailand while experiencing success on the international level as well, evidenced by the success of his film Kong (The Box) at film festivals around the world. He has spent the last few years tackling the most anticipated (as well as high pressured) film in Thai cinema history, Suriyothai. Yet with his background and his many talents, moviegoers everywhere are betting that Tan Mui will deliver.- Director
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Cherd Songsri was born in 1931 in Nakhon Sri Thammarat, Thailand. Cherd was a director and writer, known for The Scar (1977), Amdaeng Muen kab nai Rid (1994) and Puen Paeng (1983). Cherd died on 19 May 2006 in Bangkok, Thailand.- Director
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He is a Thai film director, film producer and screenwriter. Best known for his ghost thriller, Nang Nak, he is generally credited as the leader among a "New Wave" of Thai filmmakers that also includes Pen-Ek Ratanaruang, Wisit Sasanatieng and Apichatpong Weerasethakul. Nonzee graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in visual communication design from the Faculty of Decorative Arts at Silpakorn University in 1987. Classmates included Wisit Sasanatieng and production designer Ek Lemchuen. He started his career as a director of television commercials and music videos. In 2008, Nonzee became the fifth filmmaker to be honored with the Thailand Culture Ministry's Silpathorn Award, an honor previously bestowed on Pen-Ek Ratanaruang, Apichatpong Weerasethakul, Wisit Sasanatieng and Thunska Pansittivorakul.- Writer
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After training at Silpakorn University, Bangkok's most important art school, Wisit Sasanatieng worked as a commercials' director. He wrote scripts for his friend and colleague Nonzee Nimibutr, including for Nang Nak (1999). _Tears of the Black Tiger (2000)_, his directing début, is the first Thai film ever selected officially for the Cannes Film Festival, where it was bought for many countries.- Director
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Aditya Assarat was born in Bangkok. Thailand, in 1972. He left Thailand at the age of 15 to be educated in the United States. He studied History at New York University, and subsequently earned a master's degree in film production at the Southern California School of Cinematic Arts in 2000.
His graduate thesis film, the 15-minute short "Motorcycle" was screened at the Chicago International Film Festival, where it won a Gold Hugo award, the San Francisco International Film Festival, where it won a Golden Gate Award. It also won the R. D. Pestonji Award at the 2000 Thai Short Film and Video Festival and the Vision of Life Award at the 2000 Bangkok Film Festival. It was named best short film at the Aspen Shortsfest and the Shorts International Film Festival in New York City.- Director
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Itthisoontorn Vichailak is known for Hom rong (2004), Look Ba Teaw La Sud (1993) and Khon liang chang (1987).