Artima Sakulkoo

Artima Sakulkoo

Artima Sakulkoo is a queer Thai filmmaker and actor based in Brooklyn, New York. Her films explore how identity, longing, and migration shape personal stories rooted in the Thai diaspora and LGBTQ+ experience. She holds a BFA in Digital Cinema Arts from Lindenwood University and is completing her MFA at The City College of New York. Her short It Happened In August has screened at festivals in the United States and Southeast Asia.

Tell us about yourself and how your creative journey began.

I was born and raised in Bangkok in a family with no artistic background, but I was always drawn to stories. As a kid, I often pictured scenes and conversations in my mind, even before I had words for them. In 2016, I moved to the U.S. to study Digital Cinema Arts. That decision opened up space for me to experiment and make short films about identity and belonging. After college, I worked on sets in Thailand and the U.S., learning different ways to shape stories. Returning to New York for my MFA helped me connect more deeply with my voice, especially where queerness and healing meet. That is the world It Happened In August comes from.

What first drew you to filmmaking?

Seeing how powerful it is to feel represented was my first real draw to filmmaking. Stories can show sides of ourselves we’ve kept hidden. For me, filmmaking became a way to understand identity and queerness, but also a way to reach people quietly, through moments that feel honest and deeply human.

Was there a moment when you realized this was what you truly wanted to do?

When I was younger, I started acting in high school theater. I was far from the top of my class, but I felt alive on stage in a way that made sense of everything else. The audience’s reaction the first time I performed stayed with me. That feeling of connection was something I kept chasing. Acting made me curious, but I wanted to shape my own narratives, ones that reflected who I am. Once I chose film as my major, I found myself drawn deeper into the craft and I never turned back.

How would you describe your style or the kind of stories you like to tell?

I am often drawn to stories about people who carry quiet burdens. Themes of migration, grief, and belonging come up a lot for me. I love telling stories that center women, queer people, and characters who rarely get to take up space. I want my work to feel personal but open enough for anyone to see a part of themselves in it.

Are there certain themes or ideas you often return to in your work?

I often come back to identity, grief, and what stays with us after a loss. I am interested in how people rebuild themselves and what home means when you feel caught between cultures. It Happened In August is an example — it explores grief, memory, and the courage to choose yourself. These ideas continue to find their way back into my writing.

What tools, techniques, or workflows do you enjoy using most?

I rely on visual references and storyboards to help the whole team see what I see. I spend a lot of time working closely with actors, encouraging improvisation and emotional recall to bring out something real. Organization is key for me too. Tools like StudioBinder help me keep track of schedules, breakdowns, and communication across the team. In editing, I like to step back and let my editor and sound designer experiment with the first pass so I can return with fresh eyes and make choices together.

What’s your usual process when starting a new project?

A project often starts with a feeling I cannot ignore. Sometimes it is a memory or a single image. I let it sit, then share early ideas with peers I trust, especially other queer and immigrant artists.

What challenges have you faced along the way?

There are challenges in every production, but for me, the added layer has been navigating how to bring my full identity into the work without feeling like I have to explain it to everyone. I have learned to ask for support and to protect the emotional space I need. I try to build sets where everyone can feel safe to show up fully.

Is there a past project you’re especially proud of and want more people to see?

It Happened In August means a lot to me because it was born from a season when I was trying to understand grief, identity, and what it means to return to yourself. It tells the story of a Thai immigrant woman reconnecting with parts of herself she thought she lost. It was a story I needed to tell because I did not see it reflected anywhere else.

What inspired your most recent project and what was it like?

This film came from a time when I was processing my mother’s passing, my identity, and creative burnout while finishing grad school. I kept wondering if I had to choose between the immigrant story and the queer love story, but both were true. Taking on so many roles made it intense but honest. I am grateful to my crew for being there.

What do you hope audiences take away?

I hope people who feel they carry grief alone see they are not alone. This film is about love but also about having the courage to return to yourself.

Are there any new projects you’re currently working on?

While It Happened In August is still playing at festivals, I am developing new work. One project is Queer Talk, a TV pilot inspired by my time living with two roommates in Bushwick and is a love letter to queer friendship and the messy ways we find ourselves. Another project, Love Me at 3 Aunties, is about a Thai immigrant family’s bodega in Queens and the ties between legacy and identity. It is a story that feels like a tribute to my mother and the community she built around her.

What would you like to experiment with in the future?

I want to try more magical realism, nonlinear storytelling, and even genre pieces that blend sci-fi or horror with cultural memory. I am inspired by films that show we can tell bold stories that are still rooted in who we are.

How do you hope to grow as an artist?

I hope to move into longer-form work, to write a series or make a feature. I am also building a small production company here in New York, focusing on Thai and immigrant stories told with honesty and care. Most of all, I want to keep learning and creating spaces for others to tell their stories too.

What advice would you share with someone starting out?

If you feel called to create, trust that feeling. Do not wait for the perfect time or resources. Start with what you have and make work that feels true. Surround yourself with people who believe in you. The community you build will carry you forward when things feel impossible.

To see more of Artima’s work or get in touch, visit:

Instagram: @dollartima
TikTok: @dollartima
YouTube: @dollartima
Website: www.artimasakulkoo.com