Robert Lemelson, Ph.D., is an anthropologist and documentary filmmaker. He is an adjunct professor of Anthropology and Research Anthropologist at the Semel Institute of Neuroscience at UCLA. His area of specialty is Southeast-Asian Studies, psychological anthropology and transcultural psychiatry. He was a Fulbright scholar in Indonesia in 1996-1997, and is additionally trained as a clinical psychologist. He is a Director of The Lemelson Foundation. He is also the president and founder of The Foundation for Psychocultural Research, a research foundation supporting research and training in the social and neurosciences. In addition, Dr. Lemelson is Director of Elemental Productions, a documentary film production company.
His work has appeared in numerous journals and books. His edited volume “Understanding Trauma- Integrating Biological, Clinical and Cultural Approaches” was published by Cambridge Press in 2007.
His film, “40 Years of Silence”, a documentary about the mass killings in Indonesia in 1965, was released in 2008. His 2010 film series “Afflictions: Culture and Mental Illness in Indonesia” was nominated for the “Best Limited Series” by the International Documentary Association (IDA) annual award. His film on trance and possession entitled "Jathilan" will be released in 2011. He is currently in production on a film series on gender, violence and polygamy in Indonesia.