Sompote Sands

May 24, 1941 — Samut Prakan, Thailand

The founder of the Thai film production company, Chaiyo Productions, Sompote Saengduenchai (สมโพธิ แสงเดือนฉาย), better known as Sompote Sands (May 24, 1941 - August 25, 2021), was a Thai film director, producer, and special effects artist. He was best known for co-directing and producing two Japanese-Thai co-productions, "Jumborg Ace & Giant" (1974) and "Hanuman and the Seven Ultramen" (1974), as well as other science fiction, fantasy, and horror films including "Hanuman and the Five Riders" (1975), the cult classic "Crocodile" (1980), "Phra Rod Meree" (1981), "Space Warriors 2000" (1985), and the children's film "Magic Lizard" (1985). Beginning in 1996, he was a major part of the licensing rights dispute between Chaiyo Productions and Tsuburaya Productions, the original Japanese studio behind Ultraman, claiming to have co-ownership of the series outside of Japan. On August 25, 2021, Sands passed away from cancer at the age of 80. He is survived by his son, Sompote Tako, a director of similar films.