Masterclass by Apichatpong Weerasethakul

Award-winning filmmaker and artist, Apichatpong Weerasethakul delivered a masterclass on campus on Jan 17 2011. He gave an insight into his practice and working methods and how ideas of cinema, time, memory and politics are explored in his works; his sources of inspiration and how he maintains a spirit of experimentation and fun.

APICHATPONG WEERASETHAKUL is the first filmmaker from Southeast Asia to win the Palme d'Or, the top award at the Cannes Film Festival. He began making short film and video works before shooting the documentary Mysterious Object at Noon. Since 1998, the filmmaker, who deals with memory and socio-political issues, has mounted exhibitions and installations in many countries. His art projects and feature films have won him numerous festival prizes and widespread international recognition. At the Festival of Cannes, Blissfully Yours won the prize Un Certain Regard in 2002 while Tropical Malady in Competition in 2004, received the Jury's Prize.

The masterclass organized by The Asian Film was co-sponsored by New York University Tisch School of the Arts Asia and Nanyang Technological University Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information, and in conjunction with the Singapore release of Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives. The film is co-distributed by Cathay-Keris Films Pte Ltd and Lighthouse Pictures.