Laddaland, Headshot the big winners at the 21st Subhanahongsa Awards

Best supporting actor Kuck Wannasak from Mindfulness and Murder, best actress Piyathida Worramusik and supporting actress Suthatta Udomsilp from Laddaland and best director Pen-ek Ratanaruang from Headshot wth their Golden Swan trophies. Photo by Anant Chantarasoot, The Nation

The GTH horror Laddaland and Pen-ek Ratanaruang's upside-down hitman thriller Headshot pretty much evenly divided the spoils at the 21st Subhanahongsa Awards (รางวัลภาพยนตร์แห่งชาติ สุพรรณหงส์) last night at the Siam Paragon's grand Siam Pavalai theater.

Headshot took four awards, winning best director, best actor for "Peter" Nopachai Jayanama and cinematography for Chankit Chamnivikaipong, as well as sound. Headshot, which recently made its U.S. premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival, has dominated the other awards this season.

But the leading nominee Laddaland, a tale of family dysfunction in a haunted housing subdivision, took more Golden Swan trophies, six in all, including Best Picture for GTH, the screenplay by director Sophon Sakdaphisit and co-writer Sopana Chaowiwatkul, best actress for Piyathida Worramusik, as the mother, and supporting actress for Suthatta Udomsilp, who portrayed the teen daughter.  It also won for editing, and makeup.

Best supporting actor went to well-known stage performer "Kuck" Wannasak Sirilar for his role as a suspect monk in the Buddhist-themed detective story Mindfulness and Murder.

Other prizes went to Rashomon remake The Outrage for costume design and visual effects; the thirtysomething romance 30 Kamlung Jaew, a.k.a. Fabulous 30, for original song, “Man Kong Pen Kwam Rak” ("Is It Love?") by "Stamp" Apiwat Euthavornsuk; the Thai traditional dance drama Kon Khon for score; and Pumpuang (The Moon), the biopic of the late luk thung singer Pumpuang Duangchan, for art direction.

Adul Dulyarat, a veteran actor and director, perhaps best known for his lead role in the 2004 musical historical drama The Overture, was given this year's lifetime achievement award. His career goes back to 1961, when he acted in the musical romance Ruen Pae (The Boat House)

The lavish ceremonies for the Thai film industry's equivalent of the Oscars were held in the grand Siam Pavalai theater at Paragon Cineplex. Half of the multiplex's lobby was blocked off as the red carpet was laid for attendees in formal evening wear to be photographed on as they walked to the escalator on which they ascended to the theater. But despite the security tape, a few ordinary movie-goers in baggy shorts and T-shirts could be spotted trodding on the red carpet in their flipflops.

Update: The Nation has coverage of the ceremony, plus a recap of Pen-ek's humorous and sarcastic acceptance speech.

(Via @ornpp)