In love with Chiang Khan

Yuthlert Sippapak’s nostalgic romance “Tukkae Rak Pang Mak” (“Chiang Khan Love Story”) was the surprise winner at the Bangkok Critics Assembly Awards on Wednesday night, sweeping five prizes for best film, best director and screenplay, best actor for Jirayu La-ongmanee and best supporting actor for Kongkiat Komesiri.
Less of a surprise was the recognition of Nawapol Thamrongratanarit’s “The Master”, a chronicle of Bangkok’s most influential pirate-movie vendor Mr Van, which picked up both best documentary and best editing and shared second place in terms of prizes with box office smash “Kid Tueng Wittaya” (“The Teacher’s Diary”), which went home with best cinematography and best art direction.
Subhanahongsa award’s favourite “Phawang Rak” (“Concrete Clouds”) didn’t do so well, winning just the best supporting actress prize for Apinya Sakuljaroensuk despite topping the nominations.
Up on stage to receive the best picture award, veteran director and producer of “Chiang Khan Love Story” Adirek ‘Uncle’ Watleela told the audience that the prize meant a lot to his team, who had been disappointed when the film was only moderately successful at the box office.
Adirek also received two of the other awards on behalf of Yuthlert, who failed to show, and joked that he had been probably held up by the unseasonal rain.
In fact, Yuthlert was not the only one to miss the ceremony. Also noticeable by their absence were the teams from GTH Company, who are currently enjoying a company junket to Hokkaido, Japan and director Kongkiat, recognised for the first time as an actor.
However, all the other winners made it to the event, including Jirayu, best actress winner Sucha Manaying and Apinya.
Three of the four nominees for best original songs, among them Surasee Ittikul and The Musketeer, delighted the audience by performing the numbers live on stage.
This year’s lifetime achievement awards went to Sahamongkol Films’s president Somsak “Sia Jiang” Techaratanaprasert and veteran actress Amara Asavanond. Sia Jiang, who rarely makes public appearances following his stroke a few years back, made an exception for the ceremony and looked delighted to receive the award. Nonzee Nimibutre, Chukiat Sakveerakul and MR Chalermchatri “Adam” Yukol showed their appreciation for the recognition by hold up signs saying “We love Sia Jiang”
 
 The winners of the Bangkok Critics Assembly Awards:
 
Best Film: “Tukkae Rak Pang Mak” (“Chiang Khan Story”).
Director: Yuthlert Sippapak, “Chiang Khan Story”
Screenplay: Yuthlert Sippapak, “Chiang Khan Love Story”
Actor: Jirayu La-ongmanee, “Chiang Khan Story”
Actress: Sucha Manaying “Rak Luang Lorn” (“The Couple”)
Supporting Actor: Kongkiat Komesiri “Chiang Khan Story”
Supporting Actress: Apinya Sakuljaroensuk, “Phawang Rak” (“Concrete Clouds”)
Cinematography: Narupon Chokkanapitak, “The Teacher’s Diary”
 Film Editing: Nawapol Thamrongrattanarit, “The Master”
 Original Song: “Jaikhwam Samkhan” by Musketeer, “Love on the Rock”
 Original Score: Kmusician group, Khetnan Chantimatorn, Karen Musician, Sci-Fi Barber, “Sainam Tid Chua” (“By The River”)
Art Direction: Akradej Kaewkote, “The Teacher’s Diary”
Best Documentary: “The Master”

Young Filmmaker Award: Uten Sririvi, Jinnaphat Ladarat from “Phoobao Thai Baan: E-San Indy”
Lifetime Achievement Award: Somsak Techaratanaprasert, Amara Asavanond
Box Office Award: “I Fine Thank You Love You”