Apinan, Apichatpong win French honour
France has honoured two Thais with the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Order of the Arts and Letters).
They are Cultural Promotion Department director-general Apinan Poshyananda and film director Apichatpong Weerasethakul, whose "Lung Boonmee Raluek Chat" ("Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives") won the Palm d'Or at the 2010 Cannes Film Festival.
The Ordre des Arts et des Lettres has three grades: commandeur, officier and chevalier. Apichartpong and Apinan have been awarded the officier class.
According to Apinan, only one Thai - HRH Princess Galyani Vadhana - has ever been awarded the commandeur grade. Only two other Thais have been given the officier award: Manich Jumsai na Ayutthaya and Samitti Siripat.
However, all three prominent figures have already passed away.
France began bestowing the order on people who have made significant contributions to the arts and literature, or the propagation of the arts, in 1957.
