Formula for success

Anthologies seems to have captured the hearts and minds of this year’s Subhanahongsa Awards judging committee, with the three films sweeping the most nominations all featuring several segments.
Topping the list in Thailand’s answer to the Oscars, the result of which will be announced at the National Theatre on March 1, is Tanwarin Sukhapisit’s three-segment drama about transgender issues “It Gets Better” with nine nods including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Screenplay.
Next in line for the Golden Swan trophy with seven nominations each are the three-segment drama “Home” by Chookiat Sakveerakul, the animation “Yak” (“The Giant King”) and the thriller “Countdown”.
The nine segment horror “9-9-81 Bok Lao Kao Sop” (“9-9-81”) is this year’s big surprise, earning five nods for screenplay, cinematography, editing, recording and sound mixing and make-up effects.
Organised by the Federation of National Film Associations of Thailand under new president Visute Poolvoralaks, the theme of this year’s awards ceremony is “The Masterpiece”.
The aim is to make the night more entertaining and keep it at a length that ensures the audience won’t get bored.
“I hope people will love the show and that it gains in popularity,” Visute says.
 Almost 60 Thai films were released in 2012, among them non-studio films that not only did well on the international festival circuit but also made money. They include Kondej Jaturanrassame’s “Tae Piang Phoo Diaw” (“P-047”) and Nawapol Thamrongrattanarit’s “36” but neither received any nominations. The only indie film to have been recognised is Tongpong Chantarangkul’s “Padang Besar” (“I Carried You Home”), which garnered three nods: Best Screenplay, Best Actress for Apinya Sakuljaroensuk and Best Cinematography.
Head of the jury, Kris “Jazz Siam” Boonprapruet, insists that the films are judged with integrity by the panel of directors, film critics, actors and academics.
But like any competition, the winners will reflect the tastes of the jury and thus movie fans will be likely to disagree. Many have already voiced their displeasure at the nominations in the acting categories this year. And with more anthologies topping the list of nominations, the jury faced problems as to who should be nominated in the acting categories. A jury member confides that this was resolved by sticking to the international standard but admitted that the issue was complicated by the fact that the anthologies had different styles: some of the shorts are intertwined, others completely unrelated.
Thus Suquan Bulakul from the three-segment “Rak Jed Pee Dee Jed Hon” (“Seven Something”) has been nominated for Best Actress as has Penpak Sirikul in “Home”. Both are anthologies and their respective shorts are not relevant to other segments, so the two actresses are considered as the main characters in their respective “shorts”.
Another confusing nomination is David Asavanond who has received the nod for Best Actor in the film “Countdown”. While Patchara Jirathiwat is in fact the leading character, the jury considered the whole storyline and decided to put David as Best Actor instead of Best Supporting Actor.
This year the lifetime achievement award goes to Pong Aswinikul, founder of the Ram Indra sound recording studios. Pong is a master movie sound recorder whose work includes Ratt Pestonji’s multi-awarded film “Santi-Veena.”
The Subhananhongsa Award presentations will be aired on Channel 7 on March 1 starting at 11pm.
 

SUBHANAHONGSA AWARDS NOMINATIONS

 Best Picture

“Mai Dai Khor Hai Ma Ruk”
(“It Gets Better”)
“Home Kwam Ruk Kwam Sook Kwam Sonjam” (“Home”)
“Together One Thee Rak” (“Together”)
“Countdown”
“Yak” (“The Giant King”)

Best Director

Tanwarin Sukkhapisit
(“It Gets Better”)
Chookiat Sakveerakul” (“Home”)
Saranyu Jiraluk (“Together”)
Nattawut Poonpiriya “Countdown”
Prapas Cholsalanon and Chaiporn Panichrutiwong “Yak”

Best Screenplay

Rapeepimon Chaiyasena, Dulyasit Niyomkul “9-9-81 Bok Lao Kao Sop” (9-9-81)
Tanwarin Sukkhapisit
“It Gets Better”
Chookiat Sakveerakul and Nawapol Thamrongrattanarit “Home”
Nattawut Poonpiriya “Countdown”
Pramett Chankrasae, Piyakarn Bootprasert, Tongpong Chantarangkul “Padang Besar”
(“I Carried You Home”)

Best Actor

Jessadaporn Pholdee “I Miss U Rak Chan Ya Kid Tueng Chan”
(“I Miss U”)
David Asavanond “Countdown”
Sunny Suwanmethanon “Shambhala”
Komen Raungkijratanakul “Rak” (“An Ordinary Love Story”)
Krissada Sukosol Clapp “Antapal”
 

Best Actress

Preechaya Pongthananikorn
“ATM Er Rak Error”
Penpak Sirikul “Home”
Suquan Bulakul “Rak Jed Pee Dee Jed Hon” (“Seven Something”)
Apinya Sakuljaroensuk
“I Carried You Home”
Jarinporn Joonkiat “Countdown”
 
Best Supporting Actor

Parama Imanothai “It Gets Better”
Ruangsak Loychusak “Home”
Chaiyapol Julien Poupart “Jan Dara Prathom Bote”
(“Jan Dara: The Beginning”)
Ananda Everingham “Shambhala”
Setthapong Piangpor “Yod Manut Ngern Duen” (“Super Salaryman”)
 
Best Supporting Actress

Piyathida Worramusik “Together”
Apittha Klaiudom “Yes or No 2 Rak Mai Rak Ya Kuk Loei” (“Yes Or No 2”)
Bongkot Kongmalai
“Jan Dara: The Beginning”
Sakuntala Tienpairoj
“Super Salaryman”
Jirapa Wongkosawan
“Super Salaryman”
 
Best Cinematography

Saran Srisingchia, Prayook Sreethongkoon, Thamjaroen Prompan, Sitthipong Kongthong, Nikorn Sreepongworrakul, Khanathip Chaiyawan, Pongchai-phat Setthanan, Phoomin Chinaradee and Peerawat Sangklang “9-9-81”
Pramett Chankrasae “Together”
Nattawut Kittikun “Shambhala”
Sueng Daungmanee “Dek Sao”
Pramett Chankrasae
“I Carried You Home”
Best Film Editing

Surasak Panklin, Watthanachai Dulyakovit “9-9-81”
Manuss Worrasing and Suchat Saengchoo “It Gets Better”
Sasikarn Suwannasut “Together”
Panayu Khunwanlee “Countdown”
Prapas Cholsalanon, Smith Timsawas and Panlop Sinjaroen “Yak”

Best Recording
and Sound Mixing

Ram Indra Sound Mixing Studio
“9-9-81”
Ekkarat Assawajamikorn,
Wachira Wongsarote and Kantana Laboratories “I Miss U”
Nakorn Khositpaisan and
Korrakote Kraisamut
“It Gets Better”)
Richard Hawks and Technic Color Thailand “The Giant King”)
Trithep Wongpaiboon,
Noppawat Likhitwong, Wattanadet Samanchat and Kantana Laboratories “Echo Jew Kong Loke” (“Echo Planet”)

Best Original Song

“Mai Dai Khor Hai Ma Ruk”
by Hoksai Laidok and Khanakhum Apiradee from “It Gets Better”
“Pleng Rak Thee Mai Me Khum
Wa Rak by Worrawech Danuwong from “The Melody Rak Thamnong Nee” (“The Melody”)
“Phan Loei Pai” by Witwisit Hiranyawongkul from “Home”
Kerd Ma Pen Phuen Ther”
by Apiwat Eurthavornsuk from “Yak”
“Fang Si Fang Si Fang” by Kongdej Jaturanrasami from “Echo Planet”

Best Original Score

Krisanasak Kantathammawong “The Melody”
Kitti Kuremanee “Home”
Chatchai Pongprapapan
“Jan Dara: The Beginning”
Jakkrapat Iamnoon
“The Giant King”
Chatchai Pongprapapan
“Echo Planet”
 
Best Art Direction

Withaya Chaimongkol “I Miss U”
Achira Nokthet, Narongsak Pawapootanon “It Gets Better”
Patrick Meesaiyati
“Jan Dara: The Beginning”
Chaiporn Panichrutiwong
“The Giant King”
Thana Mekha amput “Antapal”

Best Costume Design

Panchalee Pinthong and Tanwarin Sukkhapisit “It Gets Better”
Ekasit Meprasertkul “Khun Nai Ho”
Athit Thrakittiwat
“Jan Dara: The Beginning”
Thanasan Aiyaresakorn
“Panya Raenu 2”
Chatchai Chaiyon “Antapal”

Best Make-Up Effects

Amarit Chokprecha
“407 Thiaw Bin Phee”
(“Dark Flight 407”)
Disney Sinchairungchat, Suphitchaya Janprakob “9-9-81”
Phookit Yiamchawee “I Miss U”
Thanawut Boosamsai
“Countdown”
Phatthara Puttisuraseth, Thatlee Jarujutharate “Tee Sam 3D” (“3AM”)