LEADING THE WAY
'Home', 'Padang Besar', 'Countdown' take top prizes at the 'Thai Oscars'
Chookiat Sakveerakul’s sentimental drama set in Chiang Mai, which brings together three stories of love and loss, struck gold at the Subhanahongsa Awards on Friday night, winning top honours best film and best director.
The thriller “Countdown” and road movie “Padang Besar” (“I Carried You Home”) also did well with “Countdown” picking up three awards including best actor for David Asvanond and “Padang Besar” garnering two, among them best actress for Apinya “Sai Paan” Sakuljaroensuk.
It was Chookiat’s second Golden Swan for best director – he also won in 2007 for his acclaimed gay teenage romance “Rak Hang Siam” (“Love of Siam”).
“Home”, set in his hometown of Chiang Mai and dedicated to his late father, tells three stories: two teenage boys who form a friendship overnight at a school while one snaps photos, a widow grieving over her dead husband and a young northern woman getting married to her wealthy southern beau.
David had second billing in “Countdown”, apparently to avoid spoiling the story. The film, which also won best screenplay for writer-director Nattapon Poonpiriya and best editing for Panayu Khunwanlee, tells the story of an unhinged drug dealer named Jesus who torments three young Thai customers in a New York City apartment.
“I’m thrilled and surprised. Thank you for the award and thanks to the director of photography who told me that if ‘Countdown’ was approved as a project, she was confident that I would get some awards for this role,” said the actor.
Best actress winner Apinya, who was suffering from flu, thanked her mother for supporting her as well as all the directors she has worked with. She plays a high-school student who joins her estranged sister in transporting their mother body’s by ambulance from Bangkok back to their hometown of Padang Besaar, on the Malaysian border.
“I Carried You Home” also won best cinematography for Pramett Chankrasae.
Held by the Federation of National Film Associations of Thailand, new president Visute Poolvoralaks attempted to keep the show brief and switched the venue to the National Theatre. The end result was that the ceremony, both on and off the stage, was less attractive than in previous years with many of the nominees and winners not showing up for what are considered Thailand’s most prestigious film awards.
The top nominee this year was Tanwarin Sukkhapisit’s transgender drama “Mai Dai Khor Hai Ma Ruk” (“It Gets Better”), which had 11 nods. It won three awards – supporting actor for Parama Imanothai plus plaudits for art direction and costume design.
Last year’s best actress winner Piyathida Mitteerachote (Worramusik) won best supporting actress for the family drama “Together”.
The lifetime achievement award went to Pong Asvinikul, founder of the Ram Indra sound recording studios, one of the major hubs for film sound in Asia. A veteran sound recording artist, Pong’s works include the now-lost 1955 masterpiece “Santi-Veena”, which also featured industry pioneer Ratt Pestonji as cinematographer.
Two acclaimed independent features from the festival circuit that also did well at the Thai box office last year – Nawapol Thamrongrattanarit’s “36” and Kongdej Jaturanrasmee’s “P-047” – were not nominated. However, Kongdej didn’t go home empty handed – he won for best original song for the animated feature “Echo Planet”, which also won for its score by Chatchai Pongpraphapan and for sound mixing.
THE BEST IN THAI FILM
- Best Film: “Home Khwam Rak Khwam Sook Khwam Songjam”, Sahamongkol Film International
- Director: Chookiat Sakveerakul,” Home”
- Actor: David Asavanond, “Countdown”
- Actress: Apinya Sakuljaroensuk, “Padang Besar” (“I Carried You Home”)
- Supporting Actor: Parama Imanothai, “ Mai Dai Kor Hai Ma Rak” (“It Gets Better”)
- Supporting Actress: Piyathida Worramusik, “Together Wan Tee Rak”
- Screenplay: Nattawut Poonpiriya, “Countdown”
- Cinematography: Pramett Chankrasae, “I Carried You Home”
- Film Editing: Panayu Khunwallee, “Countdown”
- Recording and Sound Mixing: Trithep Wongpaiboon, Noppawat Likhitwong, Wattanadet Samanchat and Kantana Laboratories, “Echo Jew Kong Loke” (“Echo Planet”)
- Original Song: “Fang Si Fang Si Fang”, Kongdej Jaturanrasamee, “Echo Planet”.
- Original Score: Chatchai Pongprapapan, “Echo Planet”
- Art Direction: Achira Nokthet and Narongsak Pawapootanon, “It Gets Better”
- Costume Design: Panchalee Pinthong and Tanwarin Sukkhapisit, “It Gets Better”
- Make Up Effects: Amarit Chokprecha, “407 Thiaw Bin Phee” (“Dark Flight 407”)
