Rattana Pestonji | |
---|---|
รัตน์ เปสตันยี | |
Born | Rattan Pestonji 22 May 1908 |
Died | 17 August 1970 Bangkok, Thailand | (aged 62)
Other names | R. D. Pestonji |
Occupations |
|
Years active | 1939–1970 |
Spouse | Chuen Thappathat (1937) |
Children | 3 |
Awards | Asia Pacific Film Festival Best cinematography 1954 Santi-Vina |
Rattana Pestonji (Thai: รัตน์ เปสตันยี; RTGS: Rat Pesatanyi) was a Thai film director, producer, screenwriter and cinematographer and is regarded as the father of contemporary Thai film. Although his filmography was brief, his films placed Thai cinema on the world stage. He also pushed for innovations, and was one of the first Thai directors to use 35-mm film. He died just as he was giving a speech to government officials to call for support of a domestic industry he saw as coming under threat from Hollywood films.[1]