October Sonata tops Subhanahongsa Awards

Postponed from March because of the red-shirt political protests in Bangkok, the 19th Subhanahongsa Awards (สุพรรณหงส์), the industry's "Thai Oscars" honoring films in 2009, were finally held on Sunday night at the Chalermkrung Royal Theater, with the weepy romance October Sonata winning the most honors.

Other big winners were the blood-soaked Slice and the thriller Nymph with three wins each.

October Sonata, a drama of star-crossed social-class romance, won Best Picture for producers at NGR, best screenplay for veteran writer-director Somkiet Vituranich and supporting actor for "Boy" Pitsanu Nimsakul, who was actually a co-lead, portraying a Chinese immigrant merchant who weds the illiterate seamstress heroine (Ratchawin Wongviriya) in a loveless marriage. The drama, about a young couple who meets on October 8, 1970, at the funeral of superstar actor Mitr Chaibancha and have an annual rendezvous at a seaside bungalow during Thailand's politically turbulent 1970s, also won for best costumes.

Kongkiat Komesiri won best director for Slice. Co-scripted by Wisit Sasanatieng and produced by Five Star Production, the homosexual-themed serial-killer thriller was Kongkiat's sophomore solo feature after 2007's Muay Thai Chaiya and his collaborative efforts with the Ronin Team on the second and third Art of the Devil slasher flicks. Slice also won for score and make up. Slice had been the top nominee, with nods in 14 of the 16 categories.

Best actor went to veteran Paramej Noi-um for Pacific Film's Samchuk, director Thanit Jitnukul's fact-based drama about a small-town school principal who struggles to help a group of schoolboys kick their drug habits.

Sirin "Cris" Horwang secured her place as Thailand's sweetheart, completing a sweep of the country's major film awards, winning best actress for GTH's Bangkok Traffic (Traffic) Love Story (Rot Fai Faa ... Maha Na Ter), in which she portrayed a thirtysomething Chinese-Thai spinster who sees a chance for love with a railway maintenance engineer on Bangkok's skytrain. She previously won at the Star Entertainment Awards, the Starpics Awards, the Bangkok Critics Assembly and the Kom Chad Luek Awards.

Supporting actress went to veteran Sunsanee Wattananukul for her widow in love with an Alzheimer's-stricken gent in Yongyoot Thongkongtoon's and GTH's Best of Times. The romantic comedy-drama also won for best song.

Winning three awards was director Pen-ek Ratanaruang's dysfunctional-marriage-in-a-jungle head-trip Nymph, which took honors in cinematography and editor for Pen-ek's frequent collaborators, lensman Chankit Chamnivikaipong and cutter MR Pattamanada Yukol. It also won for sound.

Here's the list of winners:

• Best picture: October Sonata (Ruk Tee Ror Koi, รักที่รอคอย (2009)), NGR
• Director: Kongkiat Komesiri, Slice (Chuen,เฉือน ฆาตกรรมรำลึก )
• Actor: Paramej Noi-um, Samchuk (สามชุก (ขอเพียงโอกาสอีกสักครั้ง) )
• Actress: Sirin "Cris" Horwang, Bangkok Traffic (Love) Story (Rot Fai Faa ... Maha Na Ter,รถไฟฟ้า..มาหานะเธอ)
• Supporting actor: Pitsanu Nimsakul, October Sonata
• Supporting actress: Sunsanee Wattananukul, Best of Times (Kwaam Jam San Dtae Rak Chan Yaao, ความจำสั้น แต่รักฉันยา)
• Best screenplay: October Sonata, Somkiat Vituranich
• Cinematography: Chankit Chamnivikaipong, Nymph (Nang Mai, นางไม้)
• Editing: MR Pattamanada Yukol, Nymph
• Art direction: Polek Sangkakul, A Moment in June (ณ ขณะรัก)
• Score: Wild at Heart, Slice
• Song: Seefah, "Ja Dai Mai Luem Kan", Best of Times
• Recording and sound mixing: Ramintra Recording Studio, Nymph
• Costume design: Noppadon Techo, October Sonata
• Make-up: Narudee Sakulpongchai, Slice
• Visual effects: Phakpoom R Suwatpanitch, The Scout (บิดพิภพทะลุโลก)
• Lifetime achievement award: Kecha Plianvithee
  

More coverage is at Thai Rath, Daily News, INN News and MThai.

Update: Lyn's Lakorn Blog has a look at the scene.