Apichatpong Weerasethakul

Thailand

Biography

Apichatpong Weerasethakul, born in1970 in Bangkok, Thailand, is a Thai independent film director, screenwriter and film producer. His feature films include Tropical Malady, which won a jury prize at the 2004 Cannes Film Festival, Blissfully Yours, which won the top prize in the Un Certain Regard program at the 2003 Cannes Film Festival, and Syndromes and a Century, which premiered at the 63rd Venice Film Festival and was the first Thai film to be entered in competition there. Working outside the strict confines of the Thai film studio system, Apichatpong Weerasethakul has directed several features and dozens of short films. Themes reflected in his films (frequently discussed in interviews) include dreams, nature, sexuality (including his own homosexuality), Western perceptions of  Thailand and Asia. His films display a preference for unconventional narrative structures (like placing titles/credits at the middle of a film) and for working with non-actors. Cinephiles affectionately refer to him as "Joe".

Films

• Mysterious Object at Noon (Dokfa nai meuman), (2000)
• Blissfully Yours (Sud sanaeha) (2002)
• The Adventure of Iron Pussy (Hua jai tor ra nong), co-director (2003)
• Tropical Malady (Sud pralad) (2004)
• Syndromes and a Century (Sang sattawat) (2006)
• Utopia (in development, scheduled for 2007)

Major awards

Blissfully Yours

• 2003 Buenos Aires International Festival of Independent Cinema: Best Director
• 2003 Rotterdam International Film Festival: KNF Award
• 2003 Singapore International Film Festival: Young Cinema Award
• 2002 Thessaloniki Film Festival: Golden Alexander

Tropical Malady

• 2004 Cannes Film Festival: Jury price, Un certain regard award
• 2005 Indianapolis International Film Festiva: Special Jury Prize
• 2004 Sao Paulo International Film Festival: Critics Award

Mysterious Object at Noon

• 2000 Vancouver International Film Festival: Dragons and Tigers Award - Special Citation