Contents

Southeast Asian cinema

Southeast Asian cinema is a sub-section of continental Asian cinema, which in turn comes under the umbrella term of World cinema, a term used in some anglophone countries to describe any foreign language films.

Key figures[edit]

Cambodia[edit]

• Davy Chou - Contemporary Cambodian director (Diamond Island, Return to Seoul)
• Kavich Neang - Contemporary Cambodian director (White Building)
• Haing S. Ngor – Academy Award-winning Cambodian-American actor (The Killing Fields)
• Rithy Panh – French-schooled filmmaker.
• Tim Pek -Australian film producer.
• Tea Lum Kun – Director of the highly acclaimed film The King Snake's Wife.
• Leak Lyda - Contemporary Cambodian director (The Clock: Spirits Awakening).

Indonesia[edit]

• Usmar Ismail – The Father of Indonesian Cinema, Initiator of Indonesian Film Festival, Veteran director
• Djamaluddin Malik - The Father of Indonesian Cinema Industry, Initiator of Indonesian Film Festival, Veteran movie producer
• Ratna Asmara - Indonesian First Female Director (Sedap Malam)
• Teguh Karya – Director (Badai Pasti Berlalu, Ibunda)
• Bing Slamet – Veteran actor / The Father of Indonesian Comedy (Bing Slamet Koboi Cengeng).
• Benyamin Sueb – Veteran actor (Benyamin Biang Kerok).
• Christine Hakim – Veteran actress (Whispering Sands, Tjoet Nja Dien).
• Slamet Rahardjo Djarot - Veteran actor ( Badai Pasti Berlalu, Whispering Sands, Tjoet Nja Dien)
• Dono, Kasino, Indro – Veteran comedian group (Maju Kena Mundur Kena).
• Dian Sastrowardoyo – Popular actress (Whispering Sands).
• Garin Nugroho – Director (Opera Jawa, Memories of My Body).
• Sjumandjaja – Director (Si Doel Anak Modern).
• Aria Dewa – Director (Identitas).
• Riri Riza – Director (Petualangan Sherina, Gie, What's Up With Love?, Laskar Pelangi).
• Joko Anwar – director of several commercially successful horror films (Forbidden Door, Dead Time, A Copy of My Mind, Halfworlds, Satan's Slaves)
• Teddy Soeriaatmadja – Director (Lovely Man, Something In The Way)
• Iko Uwais – Martial-Arts Actor (Merantau, The Raid : Redemption, The Raid 2 : Berandal)
• Kamila Andini - Female director (The Mirror Never Lies, Yuni)
• Timo Tjahjanto - director of several commercially successful horror films (V/H/S/2, May the Devil Take You, The Night Comes for Us)
• Kimo Stamboel - director of several commercially successful horror films (V/H/S/2, The Night Comes for Us, Dancing Village: The Curse Begins)
• Adinia Wirasti - Actress (Ada Apa dengan Cinta?)
• Happy Salma - Actress (Before, Now & Then)
• Wregas Bhanuteja - Cannes-prize winning director (Prenjak, Photocopier, Andragogy)
• Yayan Ruhian - Martial-Arts Actor (The Raid : Redemption, The Raid 2 : Berandal, Beyond Skyline, John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum)
• Angga Dwimas Sasongko - Director (One Day We'll Talk About Today, Stealing Raden Saleh, 13 Bombs in Jakarta)
• Nicholas Saputra - Popular actor ( Joni's Promise, Gie, Aruna & Her Palate)
• Reza Rahadian - Popular actor (Habibie & Ainun, Firegate, My Stupid Boss)

Laos[edit]

• Som Ock Southiponh – Independent director, producer and screenwriter (Red Lotus).
• Mattie Do – Independent Lao-American director and producer (The Long Walk, Dearest Sister, Chanthaly)
• Anysay Keola – Independent Lao director and founder of Lao New Wave Cinema (Expiration Date, Noy – Above it All, At the Horizon)^[2]

Malaysia[edit]

• P. Ramlee – Leading man, screenwriter and director
• Saloma - Actor, wife of P. Ramlee
• U-Wei Bin Haji Saari - Director and screenwriter
• Abdul Razak Mohaideen – Director
• Yasmin Ahmad – Director (Sepet)
• Michelle Yeoh - Malaysian-Chinese Academy Award Best Actress (Crazy Rich Asians, Everything Everywhere All at Once)
• Henry Golding – Actor (Crazy Rich Asians, Snake Eyes (2021 film))
• Amanda Nell Eu - Director (Tiger Stripes)

Myanmar[edit]

• Min Htin Ko Ko Gyi – Burmese film director and founder of the Human Rights Human Dignity International Film Festival. (Beyond the Dream and The Last Poem)
• Kyi Soe Tun – Myanmar's most prominent director. His films include Upstream and Blood.

Philippines[edit]

• José Nepomuceno – The Father of the Philippine Cinema
• Rogelio de la Rosa – Pre-World War II matinee idol
• Brillante Mendoza – Cannes Film Festival Best Director (Kinatay)
• Jaclyn Jose – Cannes Film Festival Best Actress (Ma' Rosa)
• John Arcilla – Venice Film Festival Best Actor (On The Job: The Missing 8)
• Lav Diaz – Venice, Berlinale, and Locarno prize-winning director (The Woman Who Left, A Lullaby to the Sorrowful Mystery, From What Is Before)
• Raymond Red – Cannes prize-winning director (Anino)
• Dolly de Leon - Golden Globe-nominated Actress (Historya ni Ha, Triangle of Sadness)
• Nora Aunor – Internationally award winning actress (Himala, Thy Womb)
• Lino Brocka – Internationally acclaimed director (Tinimbang Ka Ngunit Kulang, Maynila: Sa mga Kuko ng Liwanag)
• Erik Matti – Internationally acclaimed director (On the Job, On the Job: The Missing 8, Seklusyon)
• Eddie Romero – Awarded National Artist of the Philippines
• Eddie Garcia – Veteran actor and director
• Fernando Poe Jr. - Veteran actor and director (Ang Panday, Iyo ang Tondo, Kanya ang Cavite, Ang Probinsyano)
• Vilma Santos – Veteran actress (Anak)
• Jay Ilagan - Veteran actor (Soltero,Sister Stella L.)
• Christopher de Leon - Veteran actor (Hindi Nahahati ang Langit, Cain and Abel)
• Charo Santos-Concio - Veteran actress (Aguila, Kakabakaba Ka Ba?)
• Ishmael Bernal – Director (Himala)
• Gerardo de Leon – Director (Banaue)
• Mike de Leon – Director (Kisapmata, Batch '81)
• Marilou Diaz-Abaya – Director (Moral, José Rizal, Muro-Ami)
• Maryo J. de los Reyes – Director (Magnifico).
• Jerrold Tarog – Director (Heneral Luna, Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral)
• Isabel Sandoval – Filipina-American director (Aparisyon, Lingua Franca)
• Avid Liongoren – Animator (Saving Sally, Hayop Ka!)
• Petersen Vargas – Director (2 Cool 2 Be 4gotten, An Inconvenient Love)
• Jun Robles Lana – Director (Die Beautiful, About Us But Not About Us)
• Chai Fonacier - Actress (Patay na si Hesus, Nocebo)
• Elijah Canlas - Actor (Kalel, 15)

Singapore[edit]

• Anthony Chen – Director and producer (Ilo Ilo, Wet Season, The Breaking Ice)
• Boo Junfeng – Director and screenwriter (Sandcastle, Apprentice)
• Eric Khoo – Director and producer (Mee Pok Man, 12 Storeys)
• Jack Neo – Actor and director (I Not Stupid, Ah Boys to Men)
• K. Rajagopal – Director and screenwriter (A Yellow Bird)
• Kirsten Tan – Director and screenwriter (Pop Aye)
• Royston Tan – Director and producer (15, 881)
• Sandi Tan – Critic and director (Shirkers)
• Tan Pin Pin – Documentarian (To Singapore, With Love)
• He Shuming – Director and screenwriter (Ajoomma)

Thailand[edit]

• Apichatpong Weerasethakul – Cannes-prize winning Thai avant garde director (Blissfully Yours, Tropical Malady, Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives, Memoria).
• Chatrichalerm Yukol – Veteran director (The Legend of Suriyothai, King Naresuan).
• Nonzee Nimibutr – Director and producer who influenced the Thai industry's pan-Asian directions (Nang Nak, Jan Dara).
• The Pang Brothers – Although born in Hong Kong, these twin-brother filmmakers got their start in Thailand and made Bangkok Dangerous in 1999 and The Eye, a pan-Asian co-production in 2002.
• Pen-Ek Ratanaruang – "New wave" director (Last Life in the Universe, Invisible Waves).
• Wisit Sasanatieng – "New wave" director (Tears of the Black Tiger, Citizen Dog).
• Banjong Pisanthanakun – director of several commercially successful horror films, including Shutter, Pee Mak and The Medium.
• Nawapol Thamrongrattanarit - independent director of contemporary films such as 36, Mary Is Happy, Mary Is Happy and Happy Old Year.
• Petchara Chaowarat – iconic leading lady of Thai films in the 1960s and '70s.
• Tony Jaa – Action star (Ong-Bak: Muay Thai Warrior, Tom-Yum-Goong).
• Pimchanok Luevisadpaibul – contemporary Thai actress.
• Chutimon Chuengcharoensukying – contemporary young Thai actress known for her role in Bad Genius.
• Mario Maurer – young actor of Chinese and German lineage, widely known in Asia for his performance in The Love of Siam.
• Sunny Suwanmethanont – contemporary Thai actor of French and Singaporean descent.

Vietnam[edit]

• Tran Anh Hung – French-trained expatriate director of Cyclo and other films.
• Nguyen Vo Nghiem Minh – (Buffalo Boy)
• Dang Nhat Minh – (Girl on the River, Guava Season)
• Tony Bui – (Yellow Lotus, Green Dragon)
• Ringo Le – Vietnamese-American film director ("Saigon Love Story")
• Dustin Nguyen – Vietnamese-American actor.
• Johnny Tri Nguyen – Vietnamese-American stuntman and actor (Tom-Yum-Goong, Saigon Eclipse)
• Veronica Ngô – Vietnamese-Norwegian actress and singer (Furie)
• Hong Chau – Academy Award-nominated Vietnamese-American actress (The Whale)

See also[edit]

• Cinema of the world
• World cinema
• Asian cinema
• East Asian cinema
• South Asian cinema
• Middle Eastern cinema

Further reading[edit]

• Contemporary Asian Cinema, Anne Tereska Ciecko, editor. Berg, 2006. ISBN 1-84520-237-6
• Southeast Asian Independent Cinema, Tilman Baumgärtel, editor. Hong Kong University Press, 2012. ISBN 978-988-8083-61-9

References[edit]

External links[edit]

• Criticine.com - Manila-based scholarly journal on Southeast Asian cinema.
• Asian Film Archive - Singapore-based organization founded to preserve the film heritage of Singapore and Asian cinema.
• EngageMedia - Social and environmental focused documentary film in Southeast Asia.