Theory/Praxis/Politics: Migratory Labors of Southeast Asian Cinema

Part of the Theory/Praxis/Politics series, the forum "Migratory Labors of Southeast Asian Cinema" invites filmmakers and academics from Thailand, Myanmar, and the Philippines to discuss their experience and thoughts on navigating labor and migration in the course of their work.

 

Panelists' Bios:

 

Sompot Chidgasornpongse graduated with a bachelor’s degree in architecture from Chulalongkorn university in Thailand, and an MFA in Film/Video from California Institute of the Arts (CalArts). His short films were shown at various international film festivals such as Rotterdam, Oberhausen, Viennale, Visions du Réel, IndieLisboa, etc. He’s also a Berlinale Talents, and Talents Tokyo alumnus. His first feature documentary, Railway Sleepers (2016) was in competition at Busan IFF, had European premiere at Berlinale, and later at Sheffield, True/False, TIDF, among others. Sompot has also been working closely with Apichatpong Weerasethakul as assistant director in many films, including Tropical Malady (2004), Syndromes and a Century (2006), Cemetery of Splendour (2015), and recently, Memoria (2021). Sompot is now based in Bangkok.

 

Kissada Kamyoung was born in the Thai province of Hat Yai. After graduating with a Bachelor of Political Science from Thammasat University and a Master of Comparative Literature from Chulalongkorn University, he began working as a lecturer in the Department of Western Languages, Faculty of Archaeology, Silpakorn University, where he teaches literature and film courses. He has written several academic articles, magazine columns, and reviews about how space, time, and modern life are presented in Southeast Asian literature and cinema through the lenses of postcolonialism, urban space, and culture. Kissada Kamyoung also attended Busan Asian Film School. His 2009 short film BANGKOK DWELLER screened at the 13th Thai Short Film and Video Festival. He was the line producer for Jacob Von Heland’s BELOVED FLOOD (2014, TV) and line producer for Sompot Chidgasornpongse’s RAILWAYS SLEEPERS (2016, Busan and Berlinale Forum). He previously attended La Fabrique Cinema 2020, HAF Forum 2020, Nantes Produire au Sud 2020, SEAFIC 2020, and Locarno Open Doors 2021.

 

Carlo Francisco Manatad is a Filipino film director and editor based in Manila. He is a graduate of the University of the Philippines Film Institute. His short films have screened at numerous local and international film festivals. Junilyn Has, his first short film premiered at the Locarno Film Festival under the Pardi di Domani Section in 2015. Jodilerks Dela Cruz, Employee of the Month, his 4th short film was selected in competition at the 56th Semaine de la Critique of the Cannes International Film Festival. Baga’t Diri Tuhay Tat Pamahungpahung (The Imminent Immanent) premiered in competition at the 2018 Toronto International Film Festival. As one of the most prolific editors in the Philippines today, he has collaborated with numerous filmmakers on independent and studio films. Carlo is an alumnus of the Asian Film Academy, Berlinale Talents, Tokyo Talents and the Locarno Filmmakers Academy. Whether the Weather is Fine (Kun Maupay Man It Panahon) is his first feature film.

 

Wikanda Promkhuntong is a lecturer in Film and Cultural Studies at the Research Institute for Languages and Cultures of Asia, Mahidol University. Her research engages with East Asian cinema and different forms of border-crossing. Her works explore the discourses around and practices of screen industry agents from auteur/stars, cinephiles/fans, above/below-the-line workers, and the changing conditions that shaped their lives and works over time. Since being based in Thailand, her research also covers the areas of film cultures in relation to cinema spaces and film locations, different forms of cinematic mobilities, and historical film receptions. She completed her PhD in Film Studies at Aberystwyth University, Wales.

 

Maung Sun is a filmmaker born in Myanmar in 1983 and is currently based in Paris. His first feature film MONEY HAS FOUR LEGS world-premiered at Busan International Film Festival 2020 in competition for the New Currents Award. It traveled to Locarno, BFI London, New York Asian, and more festivals in 2021. In the same year, he was the first filmmaker from Myanmar to be selected for the Cannes Film Festival’s Cinéfondation Residence. He participated in Talents Tokyo 2022 and Berlinale Talents 2023.

 

 

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