It's all in the horror

“Laddaland”, Sophon Sakdaphisit’s blockbuster movie that combines horror chills with a tale of family dysfunction, looks all set to sweep more accolades this month with nominations in 14 categories for the upcoming Subhanahongsa Awards, Thailand’s answer to the Oscars. Hot on its heels with 12 nods is Pen-ek Ratanaruang’s film noir, “Fon Tok Khuen Fah” (“Headshot”).
The award presentation will be held on April 29 at Siam Pavalai cinema, Paragon Cineplex.
Both films are nominated for include Best Pictures, Best Director and Best Screenplay. “Laddaland” also gets the nod for Best Actor for Saharat Sangkhapreecha and Best Actress for Piyathida Worramusik, who just won the same award at the Bangkok Critics Assembly and Best Supporting Actress for young actress Suthatta Udomsilp.
“Headshot” protagonist Noppachai Jayamana is nominated for Best Actor for his role as a hitman who sees the world upside down after waking up from coma. Noppachai won the Best Actor prize at last month’s Critics Awards.
The story of the late luk thung singer Pumpuang Duangjan in “Pumpuang” (“The Moon”) is nominated eight awards including Best Picture, Best Screenplay, Best Actress for Paowalee Pornpimol and Best Supporting Actor from Nattawut Sakidjai.
The remake of Akira Kurosawa’s “Rashomon” by ML Panthevanop Devakula is nominated for seven awards but mostly in the production design category - Best Cinematography, Best Score, Best Art Direction and Best Costume. The only acting award nomination is for Radklao Amaradith for Best Supporting Actress.
M39 Company’s “30 Kamlung Jaew” also has seven nods: Best Director from Somjing Srisuphab, Best Screenplay, Best Actor from Phuphoom Pongpanu and Best Actress from Patcharapa Chaichuea.
After producing several movies with Thailand as the background, among them “Soi Cowboy” and “The Elephant King”, Thai-Irish director Thomas Waller’s directorial debut Thai language film “Sop Mai Ngiab” (Mindfulness and Murder) is in with a chance with nominations for Best Picture, Best Director for Thomas Waller Best Screenplay , Best Actor foe Vithaya Pansringarm and Best Supporting Actor from Wannasak Sirilar.
GTH’s box office successes, “Top Secret Wairun Phan Laan” (“Top Secret”) and "Suckseed Huay Khun Thep" (“Suckseed”) have three nods apiece including Best Director for Songyos Sukmakanan for “Top Secret” and Best Supporting Actor for Somboonsook “Piak Poster” Niyomsiri (“Top Secret” and Patchara Jirathiwat (“Suckseed”).
Two indie films are made it to the list of festival favourites: Sivaroj Kongsakul’s “Tee-rak” (“Eternity”) and Aditya Assarat’s“Hi-so”. Each is nominated for one award, a Best Picture nod going to “Eternity” and Best Cinematography to “Hi-so”.
This year, the lifetime achievement award goes to a veteran actor-director Adul Dulyarat.

 

The Subhananhongsa Award presentations will be aired on Channel 7 starting at 10.30pm.