TALES FROM THE DARK SIDE

There were few surprises at Sunday night’s Subhanahongsa Awards ceremony with the top nominees “Laddaland” and “Headshot”, both thrillers, winning most of the awards.
 “Laddaland”, a tale of family dysfunction in a haunted Chiang Mai housing estate, won six prizes including Best Picture for studio GTH, Best Actress for Piyathida Worramusik and Best Screenplay.
“Fon Tok Kuen Fah” (“Headshot”) followed with four awards, among them Best Director for Pen-ek Ratanaruang and Best Actor for Peter Noppachai Jayamana. It also won for cinematography and sound.
This is the first Best Director award from the Subhanahongsa stage for Pen-ek, though he has been recognised through other awards. He thanked his crew and those who had provided the financial support that allowed him to complete the project including the Culture Ministry’s “Thai Khem Khang” (Strong Thailand) fund, foreign film companies like Memento Films and private film funds.
Piyathida and Noppachai continued their successful sweep of the awards season’s Best Actress and Best Actor prizes for their outstanding work in “Laddaland” and “Headshot”.
Piyathida thanked “Laddaland” writer-director Sophon Sakdaphisit, her co-stars and her boyfriend, actor Naphasakorn Mit-aim who not only supported her but also, she said, coached her as she prepared for her role.
Young actress Suthatta Udomsilp who plays Piyathida’s teenage daughter in “Laddaland”, won Best Supporting Actress. “Laddaland” also won for editing and makeup.
The only surprise win was by stage actor Wannasak “Kuck” Sirilar, who picked up Best Supporting Actor for his role as a monk in “Sop Mai Ngiab” (“Mindfulness and Murder”). Directed by Thai-Irish director Thomas Waller, who produced “Soi Cowboy” and “The Elephant King”, the Buddhist-themed detective story was nominated for five major awards.
Director ML Bhandevanop Devakula’s “Umong Pha Maung” (“The Outrage”) won two of the seven awards it had been nominated for – Best Costumes and Visual Effects.
The thirtysomething romantic comedy from studio M-Thirtynine “30 Kamlung Jaew” won Best Original Song for “Man Khong Pen Kwam Rak” written and sung by Apiwat “Stamp” Eurthavornsuk.
“Pumpuang” (The Moon), the biopic of the late luk thung singer Pumpaung Duangjan won Best Art Direction while director Sarunyoo Wongkrajang’s traditional dance drama “Kon Khon” won Best Score.
The Lifetime Achievement award was given to veteran actor-director Adul Dulyarat, who starred in 2004’s musical historical drama “The Overture”. His career stretches back to 1961’s musical romance “Ruen Pae” (“The Boat House”).
The Subhananhongsa Awards, the Thai movie industry’s equivalent of the Academy Awards, were held in Siam Paragon’s grand Siam Pavalai theatre, with attendees walking a red carpet across the Paragon Cineplex lobby.
     GOLDEN SWAN WINNERS
- Best Picture: GTH, “Laddaland”
- 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: Wannasak Sirilar, “Mindfulness and Murder”
- Best Supporting Actress: Suthatta Udomsilp, “Laddaland”
- Best Cinematography: Charnkit Chamnivikaipong, “Headshot”
- Best Editing: Nagamon Boonrod, Phuriphan Phuphaibun and Thammarat Sumethsupachok, “Laddaland”
- Best Sound: Akritchalerm Kalayanamitr and Technicolor, “Headshot”
- Best Original Song: Apiwat “Stamp” Eurthavornsuk for “Man Khong Pen Kwam Rak” , “30 Kamlang Jaew”
- Best Score: Chesata Sukkhathramon, Chaiyoot Tosa-nga and Ratchasak Rueangchai, “Kon Khon”
- Best Art Direction: “Pumpuang” (“The Moon”)
- Best Costumes: Noppadon Techo, “The Outrage”
- Best Makeup: Pichet Wongjansom, “Laddaland”
- Best Visual Effects: Artaya Boonsoong, “The Outrage”
- Lifetime Achievement Award: Adul Dulyarat