A Conversation with Apichatpong Weerasethakul and Pen-ek Ratanaruang
VIEW EVENT DETAILSPart of the film series
Blissfully Thai
Reception to follow program.
Two leading and award-winning figures of Thai cinema join La Frances Hui of Asia Society, curator of this series, in a conversation about the current Thai film renaissance. Apichatpong Weerasethakul (b. 1970) is the director of Blissfully Yours (2002), Syndromes and a Century (2006), and Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives (2010), among others. Pen-ek Ratanaruang (b. 1962) is the director of Mon-Rak Transistor (2001), Last Life in the Universe (2003), and Ploy (2007), among others.
Apichatpong Weerasethakul (b. 1970) was born in Bangkok and grew up in Khon Kaen in northeast Thailand. He holds 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 began making film and video shorts in 1994, and completed his first feature in 2000. His art projects and feature films have won him widespread international recognition and numerous festival prizes, most notably the Palme d'Or at Cannes Film Festival for Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives (2010). Director Filmography (features): Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives (2010), Syndromes and a Century (2006), Tropical Malady (2004), The Adventures of Iron Pussy (2003), Blissfully Yours (2002), Mysterious Object at Noon (2000).
Pen-ek Ratanaruang (b. 1962) was born in Bangkok and lived in New York from 1977 to 1985. He studied at Pratt Institute, majoring in Art History. He later worked as a freelance illustrator and a graphic designer. He spent five years as an art director before directing television commercials in Thailand. Pen-ek has won major film awards including Special Jury Prize at Bangkok International Film Festival for Nymph (2009), FIPRESCI Prize at Hong Kong International Film Festival for 6ixtynin9 (1999), and Jury Prize at Fant-Asia Film Festival for Last Life in the Universe (2003).Director Filmography (features): Nymph (2009), Ploy (2007), Invisible Waves (2006), Last Life in the Universe (2003), Mon-rak Transistor (2001), 6ixtynin9 (1999), Fun Bar Karaoke (1997).
This series is presented by Asia Society in association with Cineaste.
Major support for this film series is provided by the New York State Council on the Arts and the Thai-US Partnership Program of Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Thai Artists Alliance.
Event Details
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