Rattana Pestonji

Rattana Pestonji
รัตน์ เปสตันยี
Pioneering Thai film director.
Born
Rattan Pestonji

(1908-05-22)22 May 1908
Died17 August 1970(1970-08-17) (aged 62)
Bangkok, Thailand
Other namesR. D. Pestonji
Occupations
Years active1939–1970
SpouseChuen Thappathat (1937)
Children3
AwardsAsia Pacific Film Festival Best cinematography 1954 Santi-Vina

Rattana Pestonji (Thai: รัตน์ เปสตันยี; RTGSRat 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]

  1. ^ Chaiworaporn, Anchalee (2004). "The Man Who Died for his Art". ThaiCinema.org. Retrieved 3 August 2007.