GREAT SHOT FOR 'HEADSHOT'

Headshot” swept the Bangkok Critics Awards last Wednesday picking up five awards including Best Picture, Best Director for Penek Ratanaruang and Best Actor for Peter Jayamana while horror hit “Laddaland” and the remake of “Rashomon”, “Umong Pha Muang” (“The Outrage”) each went home with two prizes.
“Headshot”, which tells the story of a hitman who sees the world upside down, is adapted from a novelette by SEAWrite winner Win Liawarin and directed by the very versatile Penek.
It’s the first independent film for the director who had worked with the studio Five Star Entertainment since making his debut with “Fun Bar Karaoke” more than a decade ago.
“Laddaland” picked up Best Actress for Piyatida Worramusik and Best Screenplay for Sophon Sakdamphisit, who also directed, and film writer/critic turned screenplay writer Sophana Chaowiwatkul.
ML Panthevanop Thevakula’s remake of Akira Kurosawa’s Rashomon won Best Supporting Actress for Radklao Amaradith and Best Art Direction for Pattarik Meesaiyat and Niti Smittasingha.
The surprise winner was the veteran director Somboonsook ‘Piak Poster’ Niyomsiri who took home Best Supporting Actor for his acting debut at his age of 80 for the film “Top Secret”.
This year the Critics Assembly adds two new award categories: the Young Filmmakers Award went to the team behind “Rak Jud Nak” while the prize for Best Original Song was won by singer/songwriter Apiwat ‘Stamp’ Eurthavornsuk for “Man Khong Pen Khwam Rak” from the film “30 Kamlang Jaew”.
This year the Lifetime Achievement Awards went to the veteran singer/actor/director Charin Nantanakorn.
Organised by the Bangkok Critics Assembly, the awards extremely well regarded.
No information about the Subhanahongsa Awards, considered Thailand’s equivalent of the O scars, has yet been revealed.
      AND THE WINNERS
  ARE ...
Best Picture: Fon Tok Khuen Fah (“Headshot”)
Best Director: Pen-ek Ratanaruang (“Headshot”)
Best Screenplay: Sophon Sakdaphisit and Sophana Chaowiwatkul (“Laddaland”)
Best Actor: Peter Noppachai Jayanama (“Headshot”)
Best Actress: Piyathida Worramusik (“Laddaland”)
Best Supporting Actor: Somboonsook “Piak Poster” Niyomsiri (“Top Secret”)
Best Supporting Actress: Radklao Amaradith (“The Outrage”)
Best Cinematography: Charnkit Chamnivikaipong (“Headshot”)
Best Editing: MR Patamanadda Yukol (“Headshot”)
Best Art Direction: Pattarik Meesaiyat and Niti Smittasingha (“The Outrage”)
Best Score: Koichi Shimizu, Wuttiwong Limtrakul and Adisak Phuakngok (“Hiso”) and Wichaya Wattanasap and Hualamphong Riddim (“Suckseed”)
Best Original Song: Apiwat “Stamp” Eurthavornsuk for “Man Khong Pen Khwam Rak" (“30 Kamlang Jaew”)
Young Filmmakers Award: “Rak Jud Nak”
Lifetime Achievement Award: Charin Nantanakorn
The Top Grossing Thai Film Award: “Tamnan Somdet Phra Naresuan Maharaj Part 3” (“The Legend of King Naresuan”).