Thai cinema has witnessed the rise of many talented women directors who have made a significant impact on the entertainment industry. These directors have brought their unique perspectives, styles, and various other genres. So, let’s delve into the top 10 Thai women directors who have left their mark on the film landscape.
1. Fawn Veerasunthorn
Fawn Veerasunthorn is a Thai film director and animator. She started her career in 2010 with a short film called Banana. She worked on the Disney Animation films Frozen (2013), Moana (2016), and Zootopia (2016) as a storyboard artist, and as head of story on Raya and the Last Dragon (2021). The first feature film she directed was Disney's Wish (2023), in collaboration with Chris Buck. She worked in some studios. She also worked as a story artist for Disney films.
2. Mingmongkol Sonakul
Mingmongkol Sonakul is a renowned Thai film producer and independent film director, born on September 5, 1979. She began her career in 2005 with a reality TV show called "3 Friends". As the head of her own production company, Dedicate Ltd., she has produced several films by notable directors such as Apichatpong Weerasethakul's "Mysterious Object at Noon", Pen-Ek Ratanaruang's "Invisible Waves", Pimpaka Towira's "One Night Husband", and Jira Maligool's "The Tin Mine".
3. Pimpaka Towira
Pimpaka Towira is a renowned Thai film director, screenwriter, and producer who began her career in 2003 with the movie "One Night Husband." In 2005, she directed another short film as part of the Digital Short Films series. Her short film "My Father" won the Special Jury Award at the International Film Festival of Asian-Pacific countries in 2010. Additionally, her second feature film, "The Island Funeral," won the Best Asian Future Film Award at the Tokyo International Film Festival in 2015.
4. Pailin Wedel
Pailin Wedel is a Thai-American photojournalist, film director, and producer. She started her career as a photographer at The News & Observer in Raleigh, North Carolina. Her first feature-length documentary, Hope Frozen, was released in 2018. She has received several awards, including the 2017 Funding Award of £80,000 from The Whickers Film & TV Funding Awards, the Best International Feature Documentary at the 2019 Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival, the Best Documentary Feature at the 2020 San Antonio Independent Film Festival, and the Best Documentary at the 2021 International Emmy Awards. In 2016, she co-founded 2050 Productions, a Bangkok-based documentary team, with her husband.
5. Kanittha Kwanyu
Kanittha Kwanyu is a Thai movie director, writer, actress, and producer. She is also known as Fon-Kanittha Kwanyu and Kanittha Kwunyoo. Her debut film was Arpat which tells the story of a young man forced into monkhood. She is also known for her work on Who Are You: She Is Another Me (2020), Happy Birthday (2018), 2gether: The Movie, and My Precious. Her other films are 15+ IQ Krachoot and Best of Times.
6. Banchorn Vorasataree
Banchorn Vorasataree is a Thai television director, production manager, and special lecturer at Bangkok University. She is known for Kinn Porsche the Series La 'forte (2022), The Warp Effect (2022), and Mama Gogo (2022). She is also an assistant director in many movies like, A Tale of Ylang Ylang, Bad Buddy, Drama for All: Criminal People 5G, and many more.
7. Sarasawadee Wongsompetch
Sarasawadee Wongsompetch is a Thai film producer. She was born on 20 October 1971. She is famous for her movies like Yes or No (2010), Ong-Bak: The Thai Warrior (2003), and Mercury Man (2006). She was also nominated for the Thailand National Film Association Award for Best Director. She also has many theatrical works such as Raeng Tawan, Tra Barb See Chompoo, Nee Ruk Nai Krong Fai, and Proud Mook.
8. Bongkoj Khongmalai
Bongkoj Khongmalai is a multi-talented Thai personality who is an actress, model, producer, and director. She was born on April 15th, 1985. She made her acting debut in 2004 in the movie 'Ai-Fak'. Later, in 2006, she starred in the movie 'Hit Man File'. In the same year, she played a lead role in the action-comedy movie 'Chai Lai'. Apart from acting, she also produced and directed many feature films and television series.
9. Manassanan Panlertwongkul
Manassanan Panlertwongkul is a Thai actress, model, host, director, and television drama director. She was born on 4 April 1983. She is famous for several of her works like The Journey (2017), Lovesuck (2015), and The Gifted: Graduation (2020). She also got nominated for many awards such as the Thailand National Film Association Award for Best Actress, and the Nataraj Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role.
10. Pratuang Srisuphan
Pratuang Srisuphan is believed to have been the first female cinematographer and director. Srisuphan directed several post-World War Two Tat Rak (1953) and Sood Teerak (1955).
