Concrete Clouds, midnight movies and much more for Busan fest

Lee Chatametikool's Concrete Clouds is among the highlights of a generous Thai selection at this year's Busan International Film Festival.

The directorial-debut feature by Lee, an editor and post-production supervisor on many Thai films, Concrete Clouds makes its world premiere in the New Currents competition. It stars Ananda Everingham as a currency trader who returns to Thailand after his father commits suicide at the onset of the 1997 Asian financial crisis. Janesuda Parnto and Apinya Sakuljaroensuk also star. Long in the works, Concrete Clouds was given a big boost in this year's round of the Busan fest's Asian Cinema Fund. Producers include Apichatpong Weerasethakul and Anocha Suwichakornpong, returning the favors Lee did for them in editing their films, along with Sylvia Chang and Soros Sukhum.

Also premiering in the New Currents competition is The Isthmus, a drama by Peerachai Kerdsint and Sopawan Boonnimitra. It's about an eight-year-old girl who suddenly loses her ability to speak Thai after her family's Burmese maid dies. "Believing her daughter is spiritually bound to the dead woman, Da and her child journey to a Thai-Burmese border town to ask the maid’s only relative to sever the connection," reads the program notes.

The Midnight Passion program offers a dose of crowd-pleasing Thai horror with the smash-hit ghost comedy Pee Mak and the international festival premiere of Last Summer (ฤดูร้อนนั้น ฉันตาย, Rue Doo Ron Nan Chan Tai), a three-part indie horror by Kittithat Tangsirikit, Sittisiri Mongkolsiri and Saranyoo Jiralak.

Saranyoo also has his 2012 drama Together making its international premiere in the Window on Asian Cinema program.

And, having premiered at the Venice fest, last year's Busan New Currents Award winner Nawapol Thamrongrattanarit has his Twitter movie Mary Is Happy, Mary Is Happy in the Window.

There's also Letters from the South, an omnibus about the Chinese diaspora in Southeast Asia. Aditya Assarat is among six directors taking part. Others are Tsai Ming-Liang, Malaysia's Tan Chui Mui, Singapore's Royston Tan and Sun Koh and Myanmar's Midi Z.

Also of interest, there's Australian director Kim Mordaunt's Lao family tale The Rocket, which has been a big hit on the festival circuit this year.

Regional highlights include Toilet Blues by Indonesia's Dirmawan Hatta in the New Currents, and in the Window on Asian Cinema, Dustin Nguyen's directorial debut Once Upon a Time in Vietnam, Lav Diaz' Norte, the End of History, Brillante Mendoza's Sapi, Adolf Alix Jr.'s Death March and Jerrold Tarog's If Only from the Philippines, the Malaysian short-film collection Ikal Mayang: Telling Women Stories, Anthony Chen's Ilo Ilo from Singapore and What They Don't Talk About When They Talk About Love from Indonesia's Mouly Surya.

The fest will open with Vara: A Blessing, the third film by Bhutanese former lama Khyentse Norbu.

The Busan International Film Festival runs from October 3 to 12.

36, P-047 take top film prizes at Kom Chad Luek Awards

Best actress winner Penpak Sirikul and best actor winner Noi Sukosol at the 10th Kom Chad Luek Awards, February 20, 2013, Bangkok. Nation photo by Thanis Sudto.

While independent films have been largely shut out of the Thai film industry's big award show this year, the 10th Kom Chad Luek Awards on Wednesday night give its top film prizes to the indie features 36 and P-047.

Writer-director Nawapol Thamrongrattanarit, who directed and produced 36 with support from some of his various employers, including film studio GTH and Aditya Assarat's Pop Pictures, won Best Picture as well as Best Screenplay. His experimental effort is comprised of 36 static camera setups that explore the fragmented memories of a film company location scout's relationship with an art director. Self-released by Nawapol in a limited theatrical run around Thailand last year, playing many sold-out shows, 36 won the New Currents Award at last year's Busan film festival, the New Talent Award in Hong Kong, best director and Cinemanila and also recently screened in Rotterdam.

Kongdej Jaturanrasmee won best director for P-047 (Tae Peang Phu Deaw, แต่เพียงผู้เดียว), an offbeat comedy-drama about a locksmith who is recruited by a subversive writer to break into apartments and "borrow" the lives of others. The veteran writer-director's first indie feature, P-047 premiered as a last-minute selection at the 2011 Venice film festival and screened at several other festivals. It was released last year in a limited run in Bangkok, where it had sold-out shows thanks to the cult status of lead actor, rock musician Apichai Tragoolpadetgrai, who was a Kom Chad Luek nominee for best actor.

The Kom Chad Luek Awards, put on by the mass-media daily newspaper of Nation Multimedia, also honor TV and music. Apichai won Song of the Year and best male vocal artist while his co-star in P-047, Parinya Kwamwongwan, was named best supporting actor.

Best actor went to Krissada "Noi" Sukosol Clapp for his lead role in the 1960s gangster drama Antapal (อันธพาล), while best actress went to Penpak Sirikul for her portrayal of an aging post-op transgender woman in It Gets Better (ไม่ได้ขอให้มารั, Mai Dai Kor Hai Ma Rak).

Both Noi and Penpak are also best-acting nominees for the industry's Subhanahongsa Awards, though Penpak is nominated for her role in the sentimental three-segment drama Home Khwam Rak Khwam Sook Khwam Songjam (Home ความรัก ความสุข ความทรงจำ).

Another Subhanahongsa nominee, Piyathida Worramusik, won Best Supporting Actress for the family drama Together Wan Tee Rak (Together วันที่รัก).

Other nominees for the Kom Chad Luek Awards included another indie fixture from the festival circuit that was ignored by the Subhanahongsas, Wichanon Sumumjarn's In April the Following Year, There was a Fire (สิ้นเมษาฝนตกมาปรอยปรอย, Sin Maysar Fon Tok Ma Proi Proi). It was up for best picture and best director.

Other best picture and best director nominees were P-047, Tanwarin Sukkhapisit's It Gets Better and Chookiat Sakveerakul's Home.

It Gets Better leads Subhanahongsa nominees

Transgender writer-director Tanwarin Sukkhapisit's multi-generational story of transgender issues and romance It Gets Better is the leading nominee for the Thai film industry's top prize, the Subhanahongsa Awards (รางวัลภาพยนตร์แห่งชาติ สุพรรณหงส์). It received nods in nine out of 16 categories, including best picture, best director and best screenplay.

Chookiat Sakveerakul's sentimental three-segment drama Home, the animated fantasy Yak: The Giant King (ยักษ์) and the New Year's Eve psychological thriller Countdown (เคาท์ดาวน์) each have seven, including best picture and best director.

And another Best Picture nominee, Oriental Eyes' family drama Together Wan Tee Rak (Together วันที่รัก), has five nominations, including best director for Saranyu Jiraluk.

Although independent films have done well at the Subhanahongsas in recent years – two indie successes from the festival circuit, P-047 and the Busan New Currents winner 36, which both had well-attended limited theatrical runs in Bangkok – were shut out entirely. However, 36 director Nawapol Thamrongrattanarit scored a nod for sharing screenwriting credit on Home, and P-047 helmer Kongdej Jaturanrasamee got a nomination for best original song on Kantana Animation's Echo Planet.

Also, another independent movie, Tongpong Chantarangkul's I Carried You Home (Padang Besar, ปาดังเบซา), received three nominations, including best screenplay.

A surprise was the indie horror omnibus 9-9-81 (บอก-เล่า-9-ศพ, Bok Lao 9 Sop), which scored five nominations, including best screenplay and best cinematography for its many cameramen. The comic-book-like tale about a suicidal bride was divided into nine segments by different directors, each offering different viewpoints from the bride's lover, her friends, family and neighbors.

Also with five nominations was the ratings-testing period erotic melodrama Jan Dara: The Beginning, including supporting actor and actress nods – Chaiyapol Julien Poupart as a Muay Thai-fighting servant boy and Jan's loyal friend and Bongkot Kongmalai in her revealing turn as Jan's doting aunt/stepmother Waad.

In the best actor category, Jessadaporn Pholdee picked up a nomination for his portrayal of the guilt-ridden widower surgeon in M-Thirtynine's horror thriller I Miss U (รักฉันอย่าคิดถึงฉัน, Rak Chan Yaa Khid Tueng Chang. He also starred in Super Salaryman, but that only got nods for supporting players.

In a controversial choice, David Asavanond is nominated as best actor for his sadistic drug dealer named Jesus in Countdown, a role he played in director Nattawut Poonpiriya's original short film. However, the top-billed actor in the feature was Pachara Chirathivat.

The Shambhala siblings Sunny Suwanmethanon and Ananda Everingham both earned nominations for the Tibet spiritual road-trip drama, with Sunny up for best actor as the more-straitlaced brother and Ananda, playing his drunken, irresponsible bro, as supporting actor. Shambhala (ชัมบาลา) also earned a cinematography nod.

Also with three nominations is the 1960s crime drama Antapal (อันธพาล), with Krissada Sukosol Clapp up for best actor for his intense portrayal of an old-school gangster. It was also nominated for costumes and art direction.

The supporting actor nominations include Parama Imanothai for his role as a boy toy to an aging transsexual in It Gets Better and Ruangsak Loychusak as the wealthy southerner husband of a northern bride in Home.

Young actor Setthapong Piangpor is up for his supporting role as a trainee from upcountry in the office comedy Super Salaryman (ยอดมนุษย์เงินเดือน, Yod Manut Nguen Duen), as are actresses Sakuntala Tienpairoj as a mid-level manager and Jirapa Wongkosawan as a suffering secretary.

Anther workplace comedy, ATM Er Rak Err (ATM เออรัก เออเร่อ), also scored an acting nomination, best actress for Preechaya Pongthananikorn, who portrayed a banking executive in a secret romance, racing to recover lost cash from a malfunctioning automated-teller machine.

Veteran actress Penpak Sirikul, who starred in three features last year, was recognized for her lead performance in a segment of Home (Home ความรัก ความสุข ความทรงจำ, Home Khwam Rak Khwam Sook Khwam Songjam), in which she portrays a grieving widow trying to put her life back together. She also starred in It Gets Better (ไม่ได้ขอให้มารั,Mai Dai Kor Hai Ma Rak), portraying the aging transsexual.

Suquan Bulakul, a veteran newscaster and first-time film actress, was nominated for her role in GTH's three-segment drama Seven Something   (รัก 7 ปี ดี 7 หน, Rak Jet Pee Dee Jet Hon). Like Penpak in Home, she also portrayed a grieving widow. She takes up marathon running with a much-younger man to cope.

Apinya Sakuljaroensuk, who was also featured in the horror thrillers I Miss U and 3 A.M., got a best actress nod for I Carried You Home, in which she plays the younger of two estranged sisters who renew their bond during a strained cross-country ambulance journey with their mother's corpse.

And Jarinporn Joonkiat was nominated for Countdown for her role as a young Thai woman living in New York who along with her two roommates is terrorized by David Asavanond's drug dealer Jesus.

Known in English as the Thailand National Film Association Awards or the Golden Swan Awards, the 22nd edition of the "Thai Oscars" are under the auspices of the Federation of National Film Associations of Thailand, which this year has a new president, GTH executive Visute Poolvoralaks. The award ceremony will be held on March 1 at the National Theatre under the theme of "The Masterpiece". It will be broadcast on Channel 7 that night at 11pm.

Also to be honored with the lifetime achievement award will be Pong Asvinikul, founder of the Ram Indra sound recording studios, which has a hand in the technical side of just about every Thai film that hits the screen.

Here are the nominees:

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 Make Up Effects

• 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

(Via The Nation, Thai Rath)

Chua Fah Din Salai, Nak Prok among top nominees for Subhannahongsa Awards

The period romance Chua Fah Din Salai (Eternity) is the leading nominee for the 20th Subhannahongsa Awards, with 14 nods in the 16 categories.

Other leading nominees in the National Federation of Film Associations of Thailand's kudosfest are the crime thriller Nak Prok (Shadow of the Naga) with 12 nods, the road-trip romance Rao Song Sam Khon (That Sounds Good) with nine nominations, the travel romance Guan Muen Ho (Hello Stranger) with eight and the superhero action drama Insee Dang (The Red Eagle) with six.

Chua Fah Din Salai, directed by ML Bhandevanop Devakul and produced by Sahamongkol Film International, is up for Best Picture as well as honors for director and screenplay and actor and actress for stars Ananda Everingham and "Ploy" Chermarn Boonyasak.

Other best-picture nominees are M-Thirtynine's That Sounds Good, GTH's Guan Muen Ho , Sahamongkol's Shadow of the Naga and Extra Virgin's indie documentary Sawan Baan Na (Agrarian Utopia).

Notably omitted from the top categories is Apichatpong Weerasethakul's Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives, which won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival last year and was the Film Federation's official selection to the Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film. It's been winning prizes at other film awards in Thailand this year, but for the Subhannahongsa Awards it's nominated for three awards: Recording and Sound Mixing, Cinematography and Supporting Actress for Jenjira Pongpas.

But while Boonmee is strangely snubbed, the indie documentary Agrarian Utopia is up for four awards. Besides best picture, Uruphong Raksasad's film is nominated for Best Director, cinematography and editing.

The nominations were announced on Thursday, February 24, in a press conference at Central Festival Pattaya Beach. The awards ceremony, popularly regarded to as the "Thai Oscars", will be held on March 6 at the beach-resort shopping mall's SFX Cinema. The event starts at 4pm and will be broadcast on Royal Thai Army television Channel 7.

FNFAT president Jareuk Kaljareuk is quoted in a press release as saying the theme of the ceremony is "Thai Films ... The Leader of Creative Economy."

"Film business is considered as creative economy. Our concept is to focus on skills, and special skills of people merge with culture, economics and technology as creative industry. It's the reason we select Pattaya city to be the location of this great event. Pattaya is one of the most important cities in term of business, and also one of the most favorite cities for foreigners who come to Thailand. This would be a great opportunity to present the potential of Thai movies to international community."

In addition, Subhannahongsa Honour Awards will be given to producer Charoen Iamphungporn of Five Star Production and producer Somsak Techaratanaprasert of Sahamongkol Film International. "They both have dedicated themselves to Thai film industry always. All people in Thai film business respect their masterpiece of works," the press release continues.

Sorajak Kasemsuvan, Secretary-General of The National Federation of Thai Film Associations said: "We all will have a great pride of our Subhannahongsa awards ceremony this year which we'll do our best to make this event great and successful as international level."

Pattaya Mayor Itthiphol Kunpluem says:

"As we are a landlord, we're glad and honored to welcome the National Federation of Film Associations of Thailand, and we're delighted to be a part of the 20th Subhannahongsa Awards ceremony. This is also a great opportunity to present Pattaya City along with such great event to Thai people, foreigners and to the world that Pattaya City is capable as more than a tourist spot. We'd like to say thanks to the National Federation of Film Associations of Thailand for this great opportunity. And, we'll welcome and support you all along the 20th Subhannahongsa awards ceremony."

Here's the list of nominees:

Visual Effects

• Human Farm, 9 Wat
• Oriental Post and Kantana Animation, Chua Fah Din Salai (Eternity)
• Kantana Animation, Samurai of Ayodhaya
• Veative Studio, My Best Bodyguard
• Kantana Animation, Insee Dang (The Red Eagle)

Make Up

• ธนธัช กิตติคุณาธิป, 9 Wat
• พิชานนทท์ รัตนกมลกานต์, Chua Fah Din Salai (Eternity)
• นนทพัฒน์ อมรไชย, Samurai of Ayodhaya
• สมบัติ พุทธบุตรทินกุล, Nak Prok (Shadow of the Naga
• ศิวกร สุขลังการ, อาภรณ์ มีบางยาง, Nam Peen Nong Sayong Kwan

Costume Design

• Noppadon Techo,Totrit Samipak, Rapan Chancharoen, Chua Fah Din Salai (Eternity)
• Sutee Meuanwaajaa, Guan Muen Ho (Hello Stranger)
• นิรชรา วรรณาลัย, My Best Bodyguard
• Chatchai Chaiyon, Ong Bak 3
• Atchariya Pinitsanpirom, Insee Dang (The Red Eagle)

Art direction

• Siranat Ratchusanti, Chua Fah Din Salai (Eternity)
• Parinda Moongmaipho, Jao Nok Krajok (Mundane History)
• Sophon Pulsawat, Nak Prok (Shadow of the Naga)
• Banphot Ngamkum, Ong-Bak 3
• Wittaya Chaimongkol, Phairot Siriwath, Pallop Chomtawor, Insee Daeng (The Red Eagle)

Score

• Chatchai Pongprapaphan, Krissanasak Kantathamwawong, * Guan Meun Ho (Hello Stranger)
• Giant Wave, Mongkol Pongwachirin, Prawit Keskasem, Rao Song Sam Khon (That Sounds Good)
• ปภัส ศิลป์, Samurai of Ayodhya
• Tipdtaiyor Pirom, Bang Rajan 2
• Ground Music, Sing Lek Lek Thee Riak Wa … Ruk (First Love)

Original Song

• “ยินดี ที่ไม่รู้จัก ” ปิยวัฒน์ 25 Hours, Guan Muen Ho (Hello Stranger
• “เธอ GET ก็ OK” สร่าง ทุกข์, Sudkate Salateped
• "เรา สอง สาม คน", Banana Boat, Rao Song Sam Khon (That Sounds Good)
• “ถ้า สัก วัน เธอ จะ กล้า พอ ”, Wednesday Child, Yes or No, Yak Rak Kor Rak Loei (Yes or No, So I Love You)
• “สิ่ง เล็ก เล็ก ที่ เรียกว่า รัก ”, พานิชวิทย์, Sing Lek Lek Thee Riak Wa … Ruk (First Love)

Recording and Sound Mixing

• เอก รัตน์ อัศวจามี กร, Vachira Wongsarod, Kantana Laboratory, Rao Song Sam Khon (That Sounds Good)
• Traithep Wongpaiboon, Nopawat Likitwong, Kantana Laboratory, Chua Fah Din SalaiEternity)
• Somchai Chansook, Sunij Asavinikul, Sunij Asavinikul, Phannipha Kabillikavanich, ห้อง บันทึกเสียง ราม อินทรา, Nak Prok (Shadow of the Naga)
• Chalermrat Kaweewattana, Lung Boonmee Raluek Chat (Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives)
• Traithep Wongpaiboon, Kantana Laboratory, Insee Dang (The Red Eagle)

Film Editing

• Thammarat Sumetsupachok, Guan Muen Ho (Hello Stranger)
• Sunij Asavinikul, Phannipha Kabillikavanich, Chua Fah Din Salai (Eternity)
• Tawat Siripon, Nak Prok (Shadow of the Naga)
• Uruphong Raksasad, Sawan Baan Na (Agrarian Utopia)
• Sunit Asvinikul, Phannipha Kabillikavanich, Insee Dang (The Red Eagle)

Cinematography

• Uruphong Raksasad, Sawan Baan Na (Agrarian Utopia)
• Thamjaroen Promphan, Somsak Srisawat, Rao Song Sam Khon (That Sounds Good)
• Teerawat Rujintham, Chua Fah Din Salai (Eternity)
• Teerawat Rujintham, Nak Prok (Shadow of the Naga)
• Sayombhu Mukdeeprom, Lung Boonmee Raluek Chat (Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives)

Screenplay

• Kittikorn Liawsirikul, Rao Song Sam Khon (That Sounds Good)
• ML Bhandevanop Devakul, Chua Fah Din Salai (Eternity)
• Koses Charittiporn, Nut Nualpang, Phawat Panangkasiri, Nak Prok (Shadow of the Naga)
• Nontra Kumwong, Chantavit Dhanasevi, Banjong Pisanthanakun, Guan Muen Ho (Hello Stranger)
• Rergchai Puangpetch, Sudkate Salateped

Supporting actress

• Ramita Mahapreukpong, Rao Song Sam Khon (That Sounds Good)
• Daraneenuch Pothipithi, Chua Fah Din Salai (Eternity)
• Inthira Charoenpura, Nak Prok (Shadow of the Naga)
• Prangthong Changtham, Namtan Daeng 2 (Brown Sugar 2)
• Jenjira Pongpas, Lung Boonmee Raluek Chat (Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives)

Supporting actor

• Teerapong Leowrakwong, Chua Fah Din Salai (Eternity)
• Sa-ad Piampongsan, Nak Prok (Shadow of the Naga)
• Ray MacDonald, Nak Prok (Shadow of the Naga)
• Pitisak Yaowanon, Nak Prok (Shadow of the Naga)
• Jaturong Phonboon, Baan Chan ... Talok Wai Gon (Por Son Wai) (The Little Comedian)

Actress

• Siriphun Wattanajinda, 9 Wat
• Rattanrat Eertaweekul, Rao Song Sam Khon (That Sounds Good)
• Neungtida Sophon, Guan Muen Ho (Hello Stranger)
• Chermarn Boonyasak, Chua Fah Din Salai (Eternity)
• Pimchanok Luevisetpaibool, Sing Lek Lek Thee Riak Wa … Ruk (First Love)

Actor

• Ananda Everingham, Chua Fah Din Salai (Eternity)
• Somchai Kemglad, Nak Prok (Shadow of the Naga)
• Chawin Likitjareonpong, Baan Chan ... Talok Wai Gon (Por Son Wai) (The Little Comedian)
• Choosak Iamsuk, Meu Peun Dao Pra Sao (Saturday Killer)
• Ananda Everingham, Insee Dang (The Red Eagle)

Director

• Sarasawadee Wongsompetch, Yes or No, Yak Rak Kor Rak Loei (Yes or No, So I Love You)
• Kittikorn Liawsirikul, Rao Song Sam Khon (That Sounds Good)
• Banjong Pisanthanakun, Guan Muen Ho (Hello Stranger)
• ML Bhandevanop Devakul, Chua Fah Din Salai (Eternity)
• Uruphong Raksasad, Sawan Baan Na (Agrarian Utopia)

Best Picture

• M-Thirtynine, Rao Song Sam Khon (That Sounds Good)
• GTH, Guan Muen Ho (Hello Stranger)
• Sahamongkol Film International,Chua Fah Din Salai (Eternity)
• Sahamongkol Film International, Nak Prok (Shadow of the Naga)
• Extra Virgin, Sawan Baan Na (Agrarian Utopia)

AFM 2010: Bitter/Sweet, My Best Bodyguard, Red Eagle and Eternity

The American Film Market starts this week in the Home of the Homeless, Santa Monica, California.

Checking out the schedule at The Film Catalogue, I see three Thai films are scheduled for screenings: Bitter/Sweet, My Best Bodyguard and The Red Eagle.

There's also mention of Eternity (no, not that Eternity) in a Hollywood Reporter article as being among "five titles likely to generate buzz at this year's AFM".

Bitter/Sweet (ข้ามฟ้า หาสูตรรัก, Kam Fah Ha Sut Rak) makes a return to AFM. Represented by Worldwide Film Entertainment, it's a 2009 Thai-Hollywood romantic comedy-drama about an American coffee buyer (Kip Pardue) who finds some tasty robusta beans on a plantation in rural southern Thailand and a feisty love interest in a Thai public-relations executive (Mamee Nakprasit). Akara Amartayakul and James Brolin star in the subplot. Bitter/Sweet was screened earlier this year in a gala presentation at the Phuket Film Festival, where it added an award to its many accolades. It had a Thai theatrical run back in June.

My Best Bodyguard, produced by Oriental Eyes and repped at AFM by Media Asia Distribution, is a Hong Kong-style action thriller that stars Princess Ubolrattana as a veteran journalist investigating the spread of a new virus. She discovers that it’s the result of a pharmaceutical company’s experiments on human subjects, and her life is in danger. The Princess is making her sophomore big-screen appearance following 2008's social drama Where the Miracle Happens. Shahkrit Yamnarm plays a gunman, with Hong Kong actor Shawn Yue is a villainous pharmaceutical company executive. James Alexander Mackie from Oriental Eyes' karmic thriller 9 Wat, also stars. A 10-minute preview was shown at a Thai Night royal gala during the Pusan International Film Festival, with a favorable response. It opened in Thai cinemas on October 21.

And then there's Wisit Sasanatieng's The Red Eagle (Insee Dang, อินทรีเเดง). Five Star Production, bless their hearts, are representing themselves at AFM. They have to have ambitious hopes for The Red Eagle, which I will admit is a difficult and troubled movie, but it's one I ended up loving upon a second viewing. A big, brash, Hollywood-style superhero thriller that's full of relentless action, I hope they find a buyer to give it a good and proper U.S. release. A cult film in the making, it deserves at least a Region 1 DVD/Blu-ray release.

The Red Eagle features a killer performance by Ananda Everingham, recently listed by The Hollywood Reporter among "10 actors to look out for in an increasingly global business". He also stars in Eternity (Chua Fai Din Salai, ชั่วฟ้าดินสลาย), the old-timey romantic drama directed by ML Bhandevanob Devakul that's adapted from a classic 1940s novella about adulterous lovers who are chained together for eternity.

The Hollywood Reporter lists Eternity among its list of five buzzworthy titles at AFM, noting that "the film has done decent box office in Thailand, grossing more than $1 million despite a slow start and a simmering controversy over nudity." Indeed, the release by Sahamongkol Film International didn't even make the chart the week of its release on September 16, but the following week it had rocketed to No. 2, and at last count had made $1.1 million (around 34 million baht). It was a summer sleeper hit, alongside another Sahamongkol release, First Love (Sing Lek Lek Thee Riak Wa … Ruk, สิ่งเล็กๆ ที่เรียกว่า...รัก). There was nudity in Eternity, but it was pretty tame and the movie was rated 15+. What nudity there was, was basically seen in the trailer. But that "simmering controversy" was enough to get people to go and see the movie.

The American Film Market runs from November 3 to 8.

Review: 9 Wat (Secret Sunday)

• Directed by Saranyoo Jiralak
• Starring Siriphun Wattanajinda, James Alexander Mackie, Penpak Sirikul, Pharadorn Sirakovit
• Released in Thai cinemas on April 13, 2010; rated 18+
• Wise Kwai's rating: 4/5

Everyone and everything has its own karmic cycle, according to the Buddhist-themed thriller 9 Wat (9 วัด).

Throwing a rock at a bird to keep it from eating a worm is one way to interfere with a karmic cycle you are not part of. In other words, mind your own business.

Altering the karmic cycle of another human being opens up a whole can of worms, as the characters in 9 Wat discover. On a road trip from Bangkok to Chiang Mai, they experience increasingly horrifying visions the closer they get to their destination. Final destination?

Not a boring Buddhist thriller, Saranyoo Jiralak's debut feature starts off with a bang, when the special-events-lighting designer Nat played by James Alexander Mackie finds himself in a terrifying situation, with grey ghosts, ghouls and crawlie things coming out of the woodwork.

Later he dresses up as a vampire in an effort to scare his girlfriend Pun, played by "Noon" Siriphun Wattanajinda.

They head out for a night of hedonism, drinking, dancing and smoking cigarettes in a flashy Bangkok nightclub. A chat with a friend in the women's room reveals a secret about Noon's character, who dresses in contemporary fashions and has dyed blond hair.

And, horror of horrors, she wears a revealing two-piece bathing suit when she goes swimming in her apartment building's pool. No good Thai girl would ever do that.

Left alone in the pool -- perhaps the other residents are frightened of so much flesh being exposed -- she has an unsettling feeling, like something is lurking or she's being watched. And doesn't that kid know he's supposed to shower before he enters the pool?

Pun and Nat are planning a road trip up to Chiang Mai. They've been together a year, but suddenly Pun wants to meet Nat's mother (Penpak Sirikul). She lives is Uthai Thani, which is on the way.

Mum is a devout Buddhist, and her family business is making Buddha statues. She frowns when she goes to wake the couple up in the morning, and finds them sleeping in the same bed. She says Nat has bad karma and urges him to visit nine temples to clear things up. She also wants Nat to go to temple with her in the morning, but Nat blows his mother off.


He does visit the temple, but it's to show Pun a comical drawing on a part of the temple wall he painted.

Throwing a rock at a bird to keep the bird from getting a worm, a young monk (Pharadorn Sirakovit) reprimands Nat, and tells him it's bad to interfere in the karmic cycle of other living things.

Turns out Nat knows this monk, who's an old childhood friend. Just by chance, the monk has his prayer mat all packed and is about to embark on a pilgrimage to Nan Province. And he would accept a ride.

Gosh, what a coincidence. Not. There are no coincidences.

Nat, speeding along behind the wheel of his Jeep Cherokee, stops at temples here and there. But only so Pun can use the toilet. He doesn't bother praying. Other temples, he drives by and honks.

The monk looks on knowingly and smugly. He knows something.

Like Nat is going to burn in hell.

Or maybe it's something else. something having to do with karma.

The fright-meter amps up little by little. A headless dog here, a rock thrown by motorbikers and a broken windshield there. A funeral and more monks. A blood-covered calf. A zombie worshippers.

There is no escape. Because it is their karma.

But what's cool about 9 Wat (Kao Wat) -- also called for reasons unknown Secret Sunday -- is that the bad stuff that's happening to the characters isn't necessarily because of how much they drink or smoke or how they dress or because they have sex or are faithless.

What's also cool about 9 Wat is the soundtrack -- a rock and electronica score by musician and DJ "Jay" Montonn Jira, plus a few bands, like the Richman Toy. It's effective, energetic and a refreshing change from the pounding pianos and grating strings that usually drone away.


Related posts:

• Noon Siriphan says 9 Wat her most-challenging role yet
• Scream Happy New Year with 9 Wat
• Website, teaser for 9 Wat (Secret Sunday)
• Noon's new look for Number 9

Noon Siriphan says 9 Wat her most-challenging role yet

The karmic horror thriller 9 Wat (9 วัด, Secret Sunday) opened today, the start of Songkran, the Thai New Year, one of the biggest holidays in the Kingdom.

The release day is auspicious, because many adherents do just what they are doing in the film -- visit nine Buddhist temples in a bid to erase bad karma and clear the way for good luck.

That isn't the way it's working out for the character played by "Noon" Siriphan Wattanajinda (ศิรพันธ์ วัฒนจินดา), a beauty columnist who is being haunted for some reason. Maybe because she dyed her hair a bleach blond. Or wears thick eye makeup. And dresses in contemporary fashions. And swims in a bikini. The spirits can't take it. They are angered by non-traditional Thai looks.

Noon says it's the most-challenging role she's had yet. The actress debuted in the 2005 romantic comedy Puean Sanit (Dear Dakanda), playing a tomboyish art student and let's-be-just-be-friends love interest for the heartbroken protagonist. She then starred in Wisit Sasanatieng’s Pen Choo Kab Phee (The Unseeable), playing a wide-eyed pregnant girl who turns up at a country mansion looking for her missing husband. She then co-starred with Princess Ubol Ratana in the country-teacher drama Where the Miracle Happens. And she's due to be seen in MC Chatrichalerm Yukol's upcoming Legend of King Naresuan 3. Noon talked more about her 9 Wat character in The Nation last week:

Poon may seem confident and aggressive but in fact, she’s very vulnerable. It wasn’t easy for me take the part because I come from a very conservative family,” says the actress, who agreed to take the role only after her mother read the script and gave the green light.

“Her decision really encouraged me to do this project even if it does blow my good girl image,” she says.

I hope Noon, as well as other Thai actresses, continue to take on more challenging roles without fear of losing work because their "good girl" image is spoiled. But that's the reality of the pettiness in the film and television industry here.

The director is Saranyoo Jiralak (ษรัณยู จิราลักษม์), who's making his feature debut. Like many Thai directors, he got his start in the late 1990s boom, working as an assistant under Nonzee Nimibutr (2499 Anthaphan Krong Muang (Dang Bireley's and the Young Gangsters), Nang Nak and Jan Dara) and Wisit Sasanatieng (Fah Talai Jone (Tears of the Black Tiger). He's been making mostly commercials since then. He talked to The Nation about the message of his movie:

I don’t believe karma can be fixed. We all have to pay for what we have done.”

The director takes a new approach to the horror flick presenting it as a road movie, with the characters moving from a chic office in neon lit Bangkok to the dark jungle of northern Thailand. Nestled in the mountains, Nan is still a peaceful province, one that has been little troubled by modern society and is an ideal setting for a mystery with lots of low-key tropical growth and mist.

"When people travel to places they haven't been before, they feel totally lost. But in the end, they will learn to grow and face up to the situation," he says.

[...]

Saranyoo says his first choice wouldn't have been a horror flick but after discussions with new production company, Oriental Eyes, he decided it could be an interesting project.

"Although the Thai film industry has a lot of ghost and horror movies, I believe there is room for new ideas. I hope the audience is ready to open their minds."

9 Wat is the second release from Oriental Eyes, which debuted with Where the Miracle Happens. Upcoming films from the company are My Best Bodyguard and Legend of the Queen, both starring Princess Ubol Ratana.

Cartoon vikings defeat Bang Rajan paladins in box-office battle

The Dreamworks Animation 3D tale How to Train Your Dragon, about a meek viking teenager who befriends a dragon, was the No. 1 movie in Thailand last weekend, topping the Thai live-action historical battle epic Bang Rajan 2 (บางระจัน ๒).

Bang Rajan 2, or as Box Office Mojo calls it, Bang Rajan 2: Reunion of the Paladins, was in second place, earning $237,792 (about 7.68 million baht), just a bit under Dragon's earnings. Bang Rajan 2 was on 89 screens vs. Dragon's 84. Higher-priced 3D screenings, including IMAX, were likely the key to Dragon's winning this fight.

Bang Rajan 2, directed by Thanit Jitnukul and released by Phranakorn Film, is followed on the chart by two more Thai releases -- Sahamongkol's "monks-with-guns" crime drama Shadow of the Naga (Nak Prok), which was the previous weekend's No. 1, and GTH's childhood comedy The Little Comedian (Baan Chan ... Talok Wai Gon (Por Son Wai)).

The top five is rounded out with the Hollywood rom-com, When in Rome.

A fourth Thai film, the teen-oriented romance starring "Poy" Treechada Marnyaporn, With Love ... Duay Rak, released on March 24, was in 10th place, earning around a half a million baht. It was released by indie house 96 Films.

The current week is fairly light, with the major Thai release being Saranae Siblor, a road trip comedy from Sahamongkol starring heartthrob Mario Maurer. It's up against the major Hollywood release Clash of Titans, which is released in both 3D and 2D, though it seems pretty pointless to spend the extra money on 3D. Better yet, head over to the Apex cinemas in Siam Square and catch Zhang Yimou's Blood Simple remake, A Gun, a Woman and a Noodle Shop.

The coming week is the start of a busy time on the Thai-movie calendar with three closely-packed releases by the studios.

First will be M39 Pictures' breakdancing drama Big Boy coming out on Tuesday, April 6, in celebration of the Chakri Day public holiday.

Post-production and animation house Katana heralds its return to live-action feature films with the Saturday, April 10, release of the historical battle epic Kon Tai Ting Pandin (The Edge of the Empire).

And Oriental Eyes' karmic ghost thriller 9 Wat (Secret Sunday) comes out on Tuesday, April 13, for the long Songkran Thai New Year holiday.

Scream Happy New Year with 9 Wat

Gosh, has it really been since December that I posted anything about the upcoming horror thriller 9 Wat?

Apparently.

Well, 9 Wat (9 วัด), English title Secret Sunday, opens on April 13. That day is Songkran, the Thai New Year, which is one of the biggest holidays in the Kingdom. So in addition to giving holiday movie crowds a reason to scream, the release day is auspicious, because many adherents do just what they are doing in the film -- visit nine Buddhist temples in a bid to erase bad karma and clear the way for good luck.

That isn't the way it's working out for "Noon" Siriphan Wattanajinda, a beauty columnist who is being haunted for some reason. Maybe because she dyed her hair a bleach blond. Or wears thick eye makeup. And dresses fashionably. And swims in a bikini. The spirits can't take it. They are angered by non-traditional Thai looks.

So she takes a trip with her architect boyfriend (James Alexander Mackie), who's been tasked with undertaking the nine-wat ritual by his mother. The couple are accompanied by a young monk.

Trouble is, instead of clearing up their bad karma, the temple trek seems to bring them more rotten luck. And bleeding cows. And headless dogs. And a hand that needs washing.

The trailer has crowds jumping in cinemas now and it's on YouTube. And now it's here too.

Upcoming Thai film releases for 2010

Yeah, I know. It's almost February. Sometimes these things take awhile.

The coming year in Thai cinema will finally see the premiere of several long-awaited, highly anticipated projects, among them Ong-Bak 3 from Tony Jaa and director Wisit Sasanatieng's reboot of the classic Red Eagle franchise. And the long-delayed Naresuan series will have its third and fourth installments.

This year will also be a further test of the Culture Ministry's ratings and censorship system.

Here's a look at some of what's coming.

Sahamongkol Film International

Ong-Bak 3, the sequel to 2008's Ong-Bak 2, is expected to be released on April 29. News from the set has been quiet this time around, in contrast to Ong-Bak 2 when financial troubles stressed Jaa out and forced him to retreat to the serenity of a meditation cave. Still set in ancient times, Ong-Bak 3 picks up where the previous film left off so abruptly and has Jaa's ancient warrior confronting his dark side. As one teaser poster tagline says, "the biggest fight of all is with himself".

Once Ong-Bak 3 is released, Jaa will get to work on a project involving him and his female action star counterpart Jija Yanin.

And word is that Sahamongkol Film International boss Somsak "Sia Jiang" Techaratanaprasert will allow Jaa to star in foreign films, at least, reports The Nation, Hong Kong films by producers who Sia Jiang has dealings with. So there's the possibilty of Jaa sparring in Donnie Yen, and Jija might appear in a Jackie Chan movie.

Jaa's former director Prachya Pinkaew will be back in action with an English-language film, Elephant White, starring Djimon Hounsou. Production starts next month, and the release will come in 2011. It's among several projects mentioned for Prachya. Others include City of Angels and Ta Bang Marn.

Sahamongkol is distributing a tentpole for the Thai film industry, The Legend of King Naresuan III and IV, about the continued adventures of the the 16th and 17th century ruler of the Ayutthaya kingdom. The movies are scheduled for back-to-back releases in August and September. Directed by MC Chatrichalerm Yukol, these sequels have been on the calendar since 2007. Controversially, at least in the eyes of some film-industry observers, Naresuan III and IV have received 480 million baht in funding from the Thai government, which will likely promote watching the movies as a duty for all Thai people.

Meanwhile, Sahamongkol has a few thrillers lined up. These include the intriguing Who Are You?, written by Eakasit Thairatana. It's coming out on February 25. A horror-sounding title is Po Taek Yak Tang Narok (โป๊ะ แตก แยกทาง นรก). And there's 14, the highly anticipated sequel to 13 Beloved by director Chookiat Sakweerakul, which was based on a comic book series by Eakasit.

Shadow of the Naga (Nak Prok) will also finally see a release, two years after it premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival. Pawat Panangkasiri's film was shelved over concerns about its story of thieves who ordain as Buddhist monks in order to retrieve hidden loot. Producer Prachya Pinkaew used it as a test case in discussions about what would be permissible under Thailand's new film law. It will be released under the restrictive 20+ rating and will also have warning messages displayed throughout, telling viewers they shouldn't do what the characters on the screen are doing, similar to the "don't do that" warning messages about smoking, drinking, sex and violence found on DVDs distributed in Thailand by Rose Media.

Further down the line for Sahamongkol is Yamada: Samurai of Ayutthaya, a historical action epic about the samurai who served in the court of King Naresuan.

Upcoming Sahamongkol comedies include Saranair Sip Lor (สาระแนสิบล้อ) on April 1, which will have Mario Maurer joining in the shenanigans of the Saranair practical-joke crew. Mum Jokmok will reload his guns for The Bodyguard 3 and there will be Tukky Jao Ying Khoiy Kob (Tukky เจ้าหญิงขายกบ or Tukky: The Princess and the Frog), a star vehicle for popular comedienne Sudarat Butrprom.

Five Star Production

Five Star makes its 2010 bow with the romantic comedy My Valentine (แล้วรัก ...ก็หมุนรอบตัวเรา). Coming out on Thursday (February 4), this is from same team that did last year's Before Valentine. Directors Songsak Mongkolthong, Pornchai "Mr. Pink" Hongrattanaporn and Seree Phongnithi collaborate on a story that stars Academy Fantasia performer Mint Minthita. She's trying to decide which fella is right for her.

More comedy and romance will come in Boonchu 10 (บุญชู 10), which was in pre-production when the series director Bhandit Rittakol died on October 1 at age 58. Actor-screenwriter Kiat Kitjaroen, who's been with the Boonchu series since the beginning, takes the directing helm.

Five Star has a hand in the pan-Asian short-film anthology for the city of Busan, South Korea, Camellia, which includes a segment by Wisit Sasanatieng and Iron Pussy performer Michael Shaowanasai.

But the big project for Five Star and Wisit is, of course, Insee Dang, the reboot of the Red Eagle franchise that starred Mitr Chaibancha, Thailand's biggest movie star of the 1960s. The 150-million-baht effort is a co-production between Five Star and Kantana. Wisit has set the story in 2016 and cast Ananda Everingham in the lead as the masked vigilante crimefighter. It's set for release on October 7, one day before the 40th anniversary of the death of Mitr, who perished in a fall from a rope ladder on a helicopter while making Insee Thong.

GTH

GMM Tai Hub so far has only one project due out soon. It's a family comedy directed by Wittaya Thongyooyong, the Fan Chan alumnus who last offered the rock 'n' roll time-travel comedy The Possible (Kao ... Kao) in 2006. Baan Chan ... Talok Wai Gon (Por Son Wai) (บ้าน ฉัน ..ตลก ไว้ ก่อน ( พ่อ สอน ไว้ ), about a clan of comedians. Jaturong Mokjok and Paula Taylor star. It'll be out on March 11.

Banjong Pisanthanakun, half of the Shutter/Alone director duo who helmed the comic segments of 4bia and Phobia 2, will shift gears entirely to direct a romantic drama.

Phranakorn Film

Continuing with the horror thrillers that are more marketable internationally, Phranakorn has started its year with Tai Hong (Die a Violent Death), which opened this week.

But then it returns to more-familiar comedy territory with Gong Pan Kreukkreun Tor Tahan Keukkak (กองพัน ครึกครื้น · ท. ทหาร คึกคัก), a gays-in-the-military romp that opens on March 11. It's directed by comedian Note Chern-yim.

Later in the year, there's the "snakes in an apartment" caper The Intruder (เขี้ยว อาฆาต, Kieow Akaat).

A third entry in Note's Luang Pee Teng (หลวงพี่เท่ง 3) series is planned, and there's Thanit Jitnukul's historical epic sequel, Bang Rajan 2.

Oriental Eyes

A fast-moving relative newcomer in the Thai film industry, Oriental Eyes has two releases planned for this year, the thriller 9 Wat (Secret Sunday) coming out on February 18 and the action thriller starring Princess Ubolratana My Best Bodyguard due later in the year.

Princess Ubolratana also stars in a historical epic, Legend of the Queen, due in 2011.

The indies

Thailand's independent filmmakers are already off to a strong start this year, with two world premieres at the International Film Festival Rotterdam. Thunska Pansittivorakul is debuting his controversial experimental gay romantic thriller Reincarnate and Jakrawal Nilthamrong ventures into Africa with Unreal Forest.

Reincarnate likely won't be shown in Thailand, but there's a chance Unreal Forest will be seen here this year. It's produced by the indie label Extra Virgin under Pimpaka Towira and Mei Meksuwan.

Extra Virgin also plans to release last year's eyepopping documentary Agrarian Utopia in Thai cinemas this year. Uruphong Rakasad's feature is also still on the festival circuit, hitting the !f Istanbul AFM International Independent Film Festival.

Also trying for at least a limited theatrical release in Thailand this year is Jao Nok Krajok (Mundane History), the family drama by Anocha Suwichakornpong that debuted last year and is also in Rotterdam this week.

Aditya Assarat and his Pop Pictures crew are hard at work on their sophomore feature, High Society (Hi-So). Starring Ananda Everingham, Cerise Leang and Sajee Apiwong, it's the story of an overseas-schooled Thai man trying to reconcile relationships with two girlfriends -- one from his school days in Australia and the other a young Thai woman. The production has shifted to Bangkok, where the crew are "sniffing around" for locations. It looks like they are aiming for a release toward the end of the year.

Apichatpong Weerasethakul has completed shooting his next feature, Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives, and is currently editing.


(Via The Nation and Pantip.com)

Shawn Yue joins cast of My Best Bodyguard

Hong Kong actor Shawn Yue will play a businessman working for a drug company in My Best Bodyguard, an action thriller that stars Princess Ubolratana, production company Oriental Eyes announced recently.

Yue has previously starred in such films as the Infernal Affairs trilogy, Initial D, Dragon Tiger Gate and Rule Number 1.

The addition of the Hong Kong star comes as Oriental Eyes enters into an international distribution deal with Media Asia Group. In addition to My Best Bodyguard, Media Asia will distribute the upcoming horror thriller 9 Wat (Secret Sunday).

The deal with Media Asia follows a tie-up with Columbia Tristar Buena Vista (Thailand) to handle local distribution of Oriental Eyes' films.

Directed by Sirippakorn Wongchariyawat, My Best Bodyguard stars Princess Ubolratana in a plot that involves a deadly virus. Shahkrit Yamnarm is a gunman who's protecting her. A trailer is at YouTube. The movie is due out around mid-year.

9 Wat (Secret Sunday), blogged about earlier, stars "Noon" Siriphun Wattanajinda and James Mackie, is due out on February 18.

(Via Asian Media Wiki)

Website, teaser for 9 Wat (Secret Sunday)

The official website has been updated with a teaser for the thriller Secret Sunday (9 Wat, 9 วัด), which stars a newly blond "Noon" Siriphun Wattanajinda and James Mackie.

Directed by Saranyoo Jiralak and produced by the Oriental Eyes company, it's set for release on February 18 -- the first release under a distribution deal with Columbia Tristar Buena Vista.

You can take a peek at the teaser on the film's website or Shock 'Til You Drop has it, as well as synopsis:

At his mother's request, Nat, a young architect, unwillingly takes a journey to visit nine different temples in order to clean up his bad karma. He is accompanied by Poon, his beauty columnist girlfriend and Sujitto, a young monk who takes care of the Tripitaka house and is responsible for the chant to chase away the bad karma.

All three characters have different purposes for taking this trip, but later on they discover that they are put together in this trip for an unforeseeable reason. A karma committed by one person could relate to karma of others. Horrifying acts done in their previous lives reveal themselves as the journey go by. The more they try to clean up Nat's bad karmas by making a merit, the closer they get to "THEM."

Nine is a numerologically auspicious number, and it's common for Thai Buddhists to visit nine temples during the January 1 New Year or April's Thai New Year for good luck.

Update: The teaser is at YouTube and is embedded below.



(Via Deknang/Popcornmag, Shock 'Til You Drop)

Noon's new look for Number 9

"Noon" Siraphun Wattanajinda has dyed her hair an almost-white blond for her role in the suspense thriller, Number 9 or 9 Wat being produced by Oriental Eyes.

Dirtii Laundry has more on the reaction of Noon's mom to the new 'do.

The actress, whose break-out role was as a Bohemian art student and subject of unrequited love in GTH's Dear Dakanda (Peun Sanit) and followed that up with The Unseeable by Wisit Sasanatieng, was last seen playing a rural teacher opposite Princess Ubolratana in Where the Miracle Happens.

Number 9 is another film from the Miracle production company, Oriental Eyes, which has been noted previously for its participation in the Thailand Entertainment Expo and a distribution deal with Columbia Tristar Buena Vista Films (Thailand).

Here's the synopsis for the Film Catalogue:

No one can remember what they have done in the past life. The one we had hurt will never forget.

Number 9 is a horror movie about a man's journey's to make a merit in order to correct his bad karma in 9 templates within 7 days. The journey led him and his companions into series of unexpected and horrified revelations.

According to his mother's request, Nat, a young architect, unwillingly takes a journey to visit 9 different temples in order to clean up his bad karma. He is accompanied by Poon, his beauty-columnist girlfriend and Sujitto, a young monk who takes care of the Tripitaka house and is responsible for the chant to chase away the bad karma. All three characters have different purposes for taking this trip, but later on they discover that they are put together in this trip for an unforeseeable reason. A karma committed by one person could relate to karma of others. Horrifying acts done in their previous lives reveal themselves as the journey go by. The more they try to clean up Nat's bad karmas by making a merit, the closer they get to THEM. The journey has changed their faith forever. How is Nat going to clean up his own mess? Would Nat be forgiven? How can an act of making the merit overcome the relentless vengeance?

James Mackie, who had a supporting role in Best of Times, also stars.

Production is now officially under way.

(Via Dirtii Laundry)

Columbia Tristar Buena Vista to distribute Thai films

Seeing Thai films regularly top the local box office -- Phobia 2 (Haa Phrang) is the latest to hit the 100-million-baht mark -- Hollywood's distributors want a piece of the action.

So Columbia Tristar Buena Vista Films (Thailand) has signed a deal to handle Thai movies, according to stories today by The Nation and the Bangkok Post.

The company will distribute films by Oriental Eyes, the studio set up to release films starring Princess Ubolratana. These include the action film My Best Bodyguard and the historical battle drama Legend of the Queen -- movies being promoted at the Thailand Entertainment Expo.

The Post also says a movie called Secret Sunday is part of the deal.

If successful, the deal could lead to distribution of Thai films overseas.

Thailand Entertainment Expo relaunches as "Miracle Wonder Gateway"

With the turn of a giant key and a resulting explosion of shiny confetti, the Thailand Entertainment Expo 2009 opened on Tuesday in Siam Paragon's Royal Paragon Hall. Accompanied by shimmying, silver-bedecked dancers and a polished presenter who shifted smoothly from Thai to English and back again, the opening ceremony was at least more entertaining than last year's inaugural event.

Organized by the Ministry of Commerce's Department of Export Promotion, the expo has been "relaunched" with the rather nonsensical theme "Miracle Wonder Gateway", and aims to market Thailand's role as a hub of the entertainment industry in Asia.

But where were the customers to start that wheel spinning? Granted, it was the opening day, and was still early. Some booths were still being set up. One display was still being painted. Others were completely unmanned, and some of those that did have people working the booth had no pamphlets or informational brochures to give away.

After hanging out for a couple hours, not much seemed to be happening, aside from a very loud show starting up in the 4D Theatre, which is a curtained-off zone in the middle of the exhibition hall.

Off to the side of the theater, armoured ancient Siamese soldiers and shirtless fighters awaited to take the stage. Costumed elephant furries from Kantana's Khan Kluay movies were being dressed -- their heads being attached and big, floppy hooves fluffed up by their herders.

A couple other cartoon characters from the Software Industry Promotion Agency (SIPA) cluster milled around and waved at passers by.

But the booming explosion of amplified shouting -- why yell when you already have a microphone? -- just made me want to run away and hide.

Still, I managed to carry on a conversation with a couple of exhibitors before I fled with my ears bleeding.

One, back from the previous year, remarked that visitor traffic seemed light compared to the same period the year before.

Another, a first-time exhibitor at the Expo but a long-time industry pro who's attended film markets and festivals worldwide, said it didn't make much sense for the Thailand Entertainment Expo to be held a week apart from the Bangkok International Film Festival. For industry visitors, travelling from anywhere, even within the region, it would be hard to justify making the effort to hit just the expo or vice versa.

Clearly, closer cooperation and coordination between the film festival and the entertainment market is needed.

The number of exhibitors, stated at around 80, is about the same as last year.

Film studios and production companies turning up include Technicolor Asia (Thailand), touting its state-of-the-art film lab and other services.

Kantana Group is there touting its Khan Kluay computer-animated features as well as an upcoming live-action historical epic, The Edge of Empire, due out around December. It's about Tai people in ancient China, being slaughtered and persecuted by the Han. They didn't have any other details to give me, like who's directing and who's starring, nor are they ready to put their Edge of Empire trailer online.

Toranong Srichua's Twentieth June Entertainment is back, with posters for the same films as the year before. The company released the special-effects laden 2022 Tsunami earlier this year and still has The Baby: Secret of the World and Amphetamine War yet to come. Primarily, I think, Twentieth June is there to promote its large studio complex.

One of the most elaborate booths was by Oriental Eyes, a production company devoted to films by Princess Ubolratana. The Princess made the socially conscious drama Where the Miracle Happens last year and is branching into action with My Best Bodyguard, due out in 2010, and the historical battle epic Legend of the Queen, set for 2011. Eight-foot-high standees for the films greeted visitors as they walked into the convention hall. And the Oriental Eyes booth itself is a two-story affair with an office upstairs and a small seating area downstairs for watching trailers on a big flatscreen monitor.

The Princess herself later paid a visit to the Expo, according to news reports, appearing gracefully in a purple dress and make opening remarks.

Another big exhibit is the Thai-Korea Friendship Pavilion, put on by the Korea Foundation for International Cultural Exchange (Kofice) and feeding an insatiable hunger that Thailand has at the moment for all things Korean -- Korean soap operas, Korean fashions and haircuts, but especially South Korean pop bands. Several groups, among them the boy band SHINee and girl group Kara, met the Princess, put on a gala concert and later a free outdoor concert with such Thai pop artists as Golf-Mike and Ice Saranyu.

But I was mostly interested in the film cluster.

Showing off all manner of cameras, dollies, lights and other equipment were film-service companies such as Lighthouse, with its own booth at one of the entrances.

Another group of companies were gathered under the Foreign Film Production Services Association. One of these was VS Service, which has worked on a lot of films by Thailand's Five Star Production, including Pen-ek Ratanaruang's Nymph and Ploy and Wisit Sasanatieng's The Unseeable and Citizen Dog, as well such foreign features as L: Change the World, American Gangster and Rambo.

Over in the animation and computer graphics cluster was Imagimax, which does computer animation as as well as visual effects on live-action films. Their show-reel includes First Flight, Muay Thai Chaiya, Tiger Blade, Vengeance and Rescue Dawn. They also had a hand in the Japanese animator Rintaro's latest feature Yona Yona Penguin, which is the world-premiering opener of the the first Bangkok International Animation Festival.

The Thailand Film Office has a booth. This government agency, under the Office of Tourism Development in the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, is responsible for granting permits to foreign film projects. The office is in the news today over the controversial U.K. reality series Big Trouble in Thailand, which depicts a group of Royal Marines on R&R in Phuket being threatened by a gun-toting jet-ski rental operator named JJ for alleged damage to the personal watercraft. The videos have become a viral hit on YouTube, made the Phuket jet-ski scam known worldwide and, of course, damaged Thailand's reputation. Plans are to prosecute to the Thai production company that arranged for the video shoot, surely a chilling reminder to filmmakers that they'd better get their films cleared or else.

I found the Mongkol Channel booth pretty comical. The satellite channel, which broadcasts non-subtitled Thai-language programming of Sahamongkol Film International's movies, was doubling as a shop for various herbal products, giving that corner of the expo a decidely flea-market atmosphere.

And then the Federation of National Film Associations of Thailand had a pair of attractive female presenters at their booth but nothing to really present -- no brochures or hand outs. Hoping for information, I walked away feeling teased.

The Expo continues until Sunday. After being open to "trade only" until yesterday, it's open to the public today, with free daily shows and concerts. Bring your earplugs.