Apichatpong Weerasethakul

Apichatpong Weerasethakul, a Thai independent film director, screenwriter and film producer, was born on 16 July 1970. Known for working outside the traditional confines of the Thai film studio system, Apichatpong has directed several features and dozens of short films. Joe, a nickname he adopted for convenience, is how friends and fans commonly refer to him. His work includes widespread acclaimed features such as Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives, winner of the 2010 Cannes Film Festival Palme d'Or and Cemetery of Splendour, which premiered to critical acclaim at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival. Themes reflected in his films include dreams, nature, sexuality (including his own homosexuality), and Western perceptions of Thailand and Asia. In addition to his film work, his creations have been exhibited in various art galleries including FACT in Liverpool, and the BFI Gallery in London.

Born into a Thai Chinese family in Bangkok, both of his parents were physicians at a hospital in Khon Kaen. His father, also a member of the House of Representatives, died when Apichatpong was very young. After attending Khon Kaen University and studying architecture, he made his first short film, Bullet, in 1993. He later attended the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and received a Master of Fine Arts in filmmaking in 1997. Apichatpong has co-founded the production company, Kick the Machine, and has remained an active force in the Thai film industry since 1993. He is expecting to begin shooting a new feature film set in Sri Lanka in 2026 or after.