In this biography
Quick facts
- Born
- 16 July 1970
- Birthplace
- Bangkok, Thailand
- Country
- Thailand
- Nationality
- Thai
- Known for
- Winning the Palme d’Or for Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives
- Studio founded
- Kick the Machine Films
- Palme d’Or
- Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives, 2010
- Education
- Khon Kaen University and School of the Art Institute of Chicago
- Also known as
- Joe
Why this life matters
Apichatpong expanded the international language of art cinema while creating a distinct record of place, memory and marginalised experience in Thailand.
Timeline
Key moments
Born in Bangkok
Born on 16 July and raised in Khon Kaen.
Founded Kick the Machine
Created a base for independent film production.
Won the Cannes Jury Prize
Tropical Malady received the festival honour.
Won the Palme d’Or
Uncle Boonmee received Cannes’ top prize.
Released Memoria
The Colombia-set film shared the Cannes Jury Prize.
An independent cinematic language
Apichatpong grew up in Khon Kaen, studied architecture and later completed an MFA in filmmaking in Chicago. His work developed outside Thailand’s commercial studio system.
Films such as Blissfully Yours and Tropical Malady use long takes, rural spaces and fluid boundaries between memory, dreams and everyday life.
Thailand and world cinema
Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives won the Palme d’Or in 2010, making Apichatpong one of Southeast Asia’s most internationally recognised filmmakers.
His films and gallery installations also engage with censorship, illness and political memory. Memoria extended his method beyond Thailand while retaining its attention to sound and remembrance.
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions about Apichatpong Weerasethakul
- Who is Apichatpong Weerasethakul?
- Apichatpong Weerasethakul is a film director and visual artist. Apichatpong expanded the international language of art cinema while creating a distinct record of place, memory and marginalised experience in Thailand.
- What is Apichatpong Weerasethakul best known for?
- Apichatpong Weerasethakul is best known for winning the Palme d’Or for Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives.
- When and where was Apichatpong Weerasethakul born?
- Apichatpong Weerasethakul was born on 16 July 1970 in Bangkok, Thailand.
Sources and further reading
How this biography was checked
Core dates and offices are checked against the sources below. This profile was last reviewed on 8 September 2026.
