Southeast Asian cinema
Southeast Asian cinema is the film industry and films produced in, or by natives of Southeast Asia. It includes any films produced in Brunei, Cambodia, East Timor, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. The majority of the films made in this region came from the Philippines, Thailand, and Indonesia where its filmmaking industries in these countries are already well-established with film directors such as Lino Brocka, Apichatpong Weerasethakul, and Joko Anwar are well-known outside of the region. Notable production studios in Southeast Asia include Star Cinema, Viva Films, TBA Studios and Reality Entertainment in the Philippines, GDH 559 and Sahamongkol Film International in Thailand, Rapi Films in Indonesia, Astro Shaw in Malaysia, Encore Films in Singapore, Studio 68 in Vietnam and LD Entertainment KH in Cambodia.
The history of cinema in the region started in Manila, Philippines, when the first ever movie theater in the country and in the region opened on January 1, 1897 at the Salon de Pertierra. It hosted public screenings for mostly imported foreign films including Espectaculo Scientifico. By late, the first ever Filipino film Dalagang Bukid was released and more local films followed.
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
Cambodia
- Davy Chou - Contemporary Cambodian director
- Kavich Neang - Contemporary Cambodian director
- Haing S. Ngor – Academy Award-winning Cambodian-American actor
- Rithy Panh – French-schooled filmmaker
- Tim Pek -Australian film producer.
- Tea Lim Koun – Director of the highly acclaimed film The Snake King's Wife and The Snake King's Wife Part 2.
- Leak Lyda - Contemporary Cambodian director The Clock: Spirits Awakening, Rent Boy (2023 film) and The Night Curse of Reatrei.
- Semsak Visal - director The Ritual: Black Nun.
- Un Bunthoeurn - director Wishing Lollipop.
- Diep Sela - co-director The Night Curse of Reatrei and Mannequin Wedding.
- Diep Sovanndara - co-director Rent Boy (2023 film), Single Dad (film) and Crush Pu.
- Sok Leng - director Beheading (film).
- Huy Yaleng - director Fathers (film) and Vikaljarek.
- Kou Darachan - director Z-Mom.
- Nop Sombat - director The Weird Villa.
- Heng Tola - director The Haunted House (2005 film), Ghost Banana Tree and The Forest (2005 film).
- Inrasothythep Neth - director Tenement (2024 film).
- Mao Ayuth - director The Crocodile (film).
- Hui Keung - director Crocodile Man and Tida Sok Puos.
- Lim Bun Lun - director Chompa Toung.
- Fai Sam Ang - director The Snake King's Child, The Snake King's Grandchild, Moranak Meada and Preah Vesandor.
- Kam Chanty - director Nieng Arp.
- Uon Kon Thuok - director Thavory Meas Bong and Peil Dael Truv Yum.
- Biv Chai Leang - director Teav Aek and Kong Kam Kong Keo.
- Yvon Hem - director Abul Kasame, Shadow of Darkness, Chek Deth, Sovann Pancha, Ynav Bosseba and Sovannahong.
- Dy Saveth - director Sdach Domrei Sor,
- Ly Bum Yim - director An Euy Srey An, Sangkum Banh Loloke and Puthisen Neang Kangrey.
- So Min Chiv - director Dav Bakdong Meas, Cha'ung Dai Ovpuk and Ream Chbong Yeung.
- Tea Lum Kang - director Pov Chouk Sar.
- Chea Nuk - director Panhjapor Tevi.
- Saravuth - director Neang Champameas.
- Tat Somnang - director Kompull Boros Mok 2.
- Vann Vannak - director Chheam Entri Khmau.
- Sinn Sisamouth - director Chamrieng Et Preang Tuk.
- Tom Som - director Vanished (2009 film) and Staying Single When.
- Lay Nguon Heng - director Tep Sodachan.
- Norodom Sihanouk - director See Angkor and Die, My Village at Sunset, The Mysterious City, Twilight (1969 film) and Apsara (film).
- Ly You Sreang - director Preah Peay Phat.
- Ly Kim Srun - director Prasna Reatrey.
- Nop Nem - director Pkai Dos Kuntuy.
- Sok Min Chi - director Pkah Thgall Meas.
- Parn Puong Bopha - director Kone Prosa Srey, Mae Ombao Meas and Pdei L'a.
- Kulikar Sotho - director The Last Reel.
- Caylee So - director In the Life of Music.
Indonesia
- 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
- Teguh Karya – Director
- Bing Slamet – Veteran actor / The Father of Indonesian Comedy.
- Benyamin Sueb – Veteran actor.
- Christine Hakim – Veteran actress.
- Slamet Rahardjo Djarot - Veteran actor
- Dono, Kasino, Indro – Veteran comedian group.
- Dian Sastrowardoyo – Popular actress.
- Garin Nugroho – Director.
- Sjumandjaja – Director.
- Aria Dewa – Director.
- Riri Riza – Director.
- Joko Anwar – director of several commercially successful horror films
- Teddy Soeriaatmadja – Director
- Iko Uwais – Martial-Arts Actor
- Kamila Andini - Female director
- Timo Tjahjanto - director of several commercially successful horror films
- Kimo Stamboel - director of several commercially successful horror films
- Adinia Wirasti - Actress
- Happy Salma - Actress
- Wregas Bhanuteja - Cannes-prize winning director
- Yayan Ruhian - Martial-Arts Actor
- Angga Dwimas Sasongko - Director
- Nicholas Saputra - Popular actor
- Reza Rahadian - Popular actor
Laos
- Som Ock Southiponh – Independent director, producer and screenwriter.
- Mattie Do – Independent Lao-American director and producer ''
- Anysay Keola – Independent Lao director and founder of Lao New Wave Cinema
Malaysia
- 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
- Michelle Yeoh - Malaysian-Chinese Academy Award Best Actress
- Henry Golding – Actor
- Amanda Nell Eu - Director
Myanmar
- Min Htin Ko Ko Gyi – Burmese film director and founder of the Human Rights Human Dignity International Film Festival.
- Kyi Soe Tun – Myanmar's most prominent director. His films include Upstream and Blood.
Philippines
- 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
- Jaclyn Jose – Cannes Film Festival Best Actress '
- John Arcilla – Venice Film Festival Best Actor '
- Lav Diaz – Venice, Berlinale, and Locarno prize-winning director '
- Ronnie del Carmen – Academy Award-nominated animator
- Raymond Red – Cannes prize-winning director
- Dolly de Leon - Golden Globe-nominated Actress
- Nora Aunor – Internationally award winning actress '
- Lino Brocka – Internationally acclaimed director '
- Erik Matti – Internationally acclaimed director '
- Eddie Romero – Awarded National Artist of the Philippines
- Eddie Garcia – Veteran actor and director
- Fernando Poe Jr. - Veteran actor and director
- Vilma Santos – Veteran actress '
- Jay Ilagan - Veteran actor
- Christopher de Leon - Veteran actor
- Charo Santos-Concio - Veteran actress
- Ishmael Bernal – Director '
- Gerardo de Leon – Director '
- Mike de Leon – Director '
- Marilou Diaz-Abaya – Director '
- Maryo J. de los Reyes – Director '.
- Jerrold Tarog – Director ''
- Isabel Sandoval – Filipino director '
- Avid Liongoren – Animator '
- Petersen Vargas – Director
- Antoinette Jadaone - Director
- Jun Robles Lana – Director
- Chai Fonacier - Actress
- Elijah Canlas - Actor
- Maris Racal - Actress
Singapore
- Anthony Chen – Director and producer
- Boo Junfeng – Director and screenwriter
- Eric Khoo – Director and producer
- Jack Neo – Actor and director
- K. Rajagopal – Director and screenwriter
- Kirsten Tan – Director and screenwriter
- Royston Tan – Director and producer
- Sandi Tan – Critic and director
- Tan Pin Pin – Documentarian
- He Shuming – Director and screenwriter
Thailand
- Apichatpong Weerasethakul – Cannes-prize winning Thai avant garde director.
- Chatrichalerm Yukol – Veteran director.
- Nonzee Nimibutr – Director and producer who influenced the Thai industry's pan-Asian directions.
- 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.
- Wisit Sasanatieng – "New wave" director.
- 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.
- 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
- Tran Anh Hung – French-trained expatriate director of Cyclo and other films.
- Nguyen Vo Nghiem Minh –
- Dang Nhat Minh –
- Tony Bui –
- Ringo Le – Vietnamese-American film director
- Dustin Nguyen – Vietnamese-American actor.
- Johnny Tri Nguyen – Vietnamese-American stuntman and actor
- Veronica Ngô – Vietnamese-Norwegian actress and singer
- Hong Chau – Academy Award-nominated Vietnamese-American actress