Thailand National Film Association Awards Names ‘Home’ Best Picture

With the Oscars fresh in mind, Thailand took its own annual turn at awards night late Friday in Bangkok. The 22nd edition of Subhanahongsa Awards (known alternatively in English as the Thailand National Film Association Awards, the Golden Swans or the Thai Oscars), rolled out the red carpet for the domestic Thai industry at the historic National Theater beside Bangkok’s Chao Phraya River.

Going into the evening, transgender writer-director Tanwarin Sukkhapisit‘s sympathetic story of transgender romance, It Gets Better, was the clear frontrunner, having received nominations in nine out of 16 categories. 

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But 32-year-old director Chookiat Sakveerakul stole the night, winning best director and best picture with Home, a three-part drama dedicated to the director’s father, who passed away this year, and set in his hometown–the northern Thai city of Chiang Mai. Chookiat seemed as surprised as some of the audience as he tentatively left his seat to go and receive his Golden Swan. 

It Gets Better did win in production categories for best costume design and best art direction. And the film’s supporting star, Parama Imanothai, took best supporting actor for his portrayal of an aging transsexual’s coy teenage love interest.  

In another surprise, French-Thai actor David Asavanond won best actor for his crazed performance as a sadistic, drug-dealing hipster named Jesus in Nattawut Poonpiriya’s New York-set horror-thriller Countdown. Prior to the night, local press had suggested his nomination alone was somewhat controversial. Asavanond made light of this as he accepted his award, waving his hands as if magnetic energy were pushing him away from the statue, but he quickly got earnest and became choked up at several points in his acceptance speech. 

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Best actress went to Apinya Sakuljaroensuk for her role as the younger of two estranged sisters reunited by the sudden death of their mother, in director Tongpong Chantararangkul’s debut feature I Carried You Home.

The Film Association also doled out a Lifetime Achievement award this year, which went to Pong Asvinikul, who founded Bangkok’s Ramindra Sound Recording Studios in 1971 and has overseen the sound mixing of hundreds of Thai and international films since. The elderly Pong, something of a legend in the local industry, received the night’s largest round of applause as he was helped to the stage and claimed his prize with a smile and small bow. 

See below for the complete winners list for the 2013 Thailand National Film Association Awards.

Best Picture

It Gets Better, M Pictures

* Home, Sahamongkol Film International

Together Wan Tee Rak, Oriental Eyes

Countdown, GTH

Yak: The Giant King, Sahamongkol Film International

Best Director

Tanwarin Sukkhapisit, It Gets Better

* Chookiat Sakveerakul, Home

Saranyu Jiraluk, Together

Nattawut Poonpiriya, Countdown

Prapas Cholsalanon and Chaiporn Panichrutiwong, Yak: The Giant King

Best Screenplay

Rapeepimon Chaiyasena, Dulyasit Niyomkul, 9-9-81

Tanwarin Sukkhapisit, It Gets Better

Chookiat Sakveerakul and Nawapol Thamrongrattanarit, Home

*Nattawut Poonpiriya, Countdown

Pramett Chankrasae, Piyakarn Bootprasert and Tongpong Chantarangkul,I Carried You Home

Best Actor

Jessadaporn Pholdee, 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, 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: The Beginning

Ananda Everingham, Shambhala

Setthapong Piangpor, Super Salaryman

Best Supporting Actress

* Piyathida Worramusik, Together

Apittha Klaiudom, 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 Chayiawan, Pongchaiphat 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 Khunwallee, Countdown

Prapas Cholsalanon, Smith Timsawas and Panlop Sinjaroen, Yak: The Giant King

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 Hocks and Technicolor Thailand, Yak: The Giant King

*Trithep Wongpaiboon, Noppawat Likhitwong, Wattanadet Samanchat and Kantana Laboratories, Echo Planet

Best Original Song

“Mai Dai Khor Hai Ma Ruk”, Hoksai Laidok and Khanakhum Apiradee, It Gets Better

“Pleng Rak Thee Mai Me Khum Wa Rak”, Worrawech Danuwong, The Melody

“Phan Loei Pai”, Witwisit Hiranyawongkul, Home

“Kerd Ma Pen Phuen Ther”, Apiwat Eurthavornsuk, Yak: The Giant King

*“Fang Si Fang Si Fang”, Kongdej Jaturanrasamee, Echo Planet

Best Original Score

Krisanasak Kantathammawong, The Melody

Kitti Kuremanee, Home

Chatchai Pongprapapan, Jan Dara: The Beginning

Jakkrapat Iamnoon, Yak: The Giant King

*Chatchai Pongprapapan, Echo Planet

Best Art Direction

Withaya Chaimongkol, I Miss U

* Achira Nokthet and Narongsak Pawapootanon, It Gets Better

Patrick Meesaiyati, Jan Dara: The Beginning

Chaiporn Panichrutiwong, Yak: 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 Makeup

* Amarit Chokprecha, Dark Flight 407

Disney Sinchairungchat and Suphitchaya Janprakob, 9-9-81

Phookit Yiamchawee, I Miss U

Thanawut Boosamsai, Countdown

Phatthara Puttisuraseth and Thatlee Jarujutharate, 3AM