Understanding the metaphysical world of Apichatpong Weerasethakul

The 17th edition of BIFFes is screening classics by Thai filmmaker Apichatpong Weerasethakul, known for his experimental approach to film

The 17th edition of the Bengaluru International Film Festival (BIFFes) is screening classics by Apichatpong Weerasethakul. The Thai film director and producer is known for his unusual approach to capturing the moving image.

Popularly known as Joe or Pong, Apichatpong is known for his body of visual work which is stunning and often showcased at retrospectives and special film festival sections. “Apichatpong was not in a position to visit Bengaluru, as he is busy with his next venture Jengira’s Magnificent Dream, with filming scheduled to begin in Sri Lanka in February 2026,” says Murali PB, artistic director BIFFes. According to sources, the film is inspired by Arthur C Clarke’s 1979 novel The Fountains of Paradise and a Thai woman’s pilgrimage to Sri Lanka.

According to Rahul S Desai, a member of the BIFFEs executive team which curated Apichatpong films for this edition, the filmmaker seems guided by Buddhist philosophies of rebirth, self-transformation, and personhood, which reflect in his work. “Apichatpong’s vast body of work stands as a testament to both the transcendental power of the moving image and the intimacy between humans and their landscape,” says Rahul.

Besides being a poetic filmmaker, Pong has made over 50 powerful and meaningful short films, that are surprisingly disorganised in comparison to his feature films. Many of them shot on digital cameras, seem to allow the director more freedom to explore radical approaches to stylisation.

Apichatpong Weerasethakul | Photo Credit: ROMEO GACAD

Apart from film making, Apichatpong has engaged in installation, theatre, and performance pieces as well.