Guest post: Wrapping up Filmart 2016

Booths at Filmart. Photo by Keith Barclay.

Keith Barclay is editor of the New Zealand film industry publication Screenz. A sponsored journalist covering Filmart, he offers Wise Kwai's Thai Film Journal tailored coverage of Filmart, the Hong Kong-Asia Film Financing Forum and the Asian Film Awards.

Hong Kong's Filmart wrapped on March 17. With 800 exhibitors and 7,300 registered buyers, the event set a new attendance record on the occasion of its 20th edition. It's a long way from the 75 invited exhibitors who took part in the inaugural 1997 event. Filmart is Asia's largest entertainment market event by some distance. Depending how it's measured, it's one of the world's top three or top five.

Strongly supported over the years by Hong Kong's own production and distribution community, a solid core of Thai distributors has been doing business there for several years. There are also several distributors from elsewhere carrying Thai product as part of a broader offer.

The most prominent Thai distributors at this year's Filmart were Five Star and Mono, each carrying a catalog of the more commercial Thai fare – mostly horrors, comedies and romantic comedies. Mono presented a large amount of its TV product as part of its offer. Both stands were busy during the market.

Five Star had Achira Nokthet's Ghost Ship (มอญซ่อนผี, Mon Son Phee) and Surussavadi Chuarchart's F.Hilaire (ฟ.ฮีแลร์), both released in Thai cinemas last year. Also in Five Star's catalogue, although a little older, was Issara Nadee's 2012 feature 407 Dark Flight. Thailand's first 3D horror feature, it has other Hong Kong connections having been shot by another of Filmart's regular exhibitors, Percy Fung's Hong Kong-based 3D Magic.

Representing the Thai government, the Thailand Film Office was one of a number of film offices from the region looking to attract business, productions looking to shoot in Asian locations or use services in the region. This year, the Thai team had a number of bites at the cherry with two umbrella organisations specializing in film attraction also exhibiting. AFCNet, the Asian organisation formed out of the worldwide International Association of Film Commissioners (AFCI) had a stand, as did Film Asean which, as it says on the box, represents the interests of the 10 member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Film Asean arrived in Hong Kong having made a good splash at its launch at the Berlinale's European Film Market in February.

The organization has been in development for four years, and has set both outward and inward-facing goals. In Southeast Asia, Film Asean will offer services including a touring mini-festival to introduce films from other countries in the region to regional audiences. For industry members, it will also support training and upskilling initiatives to help develop each country's own production capability and to better service the (usually more lucrative) inbound productions.

In 2013 Thailand introduced its own initiative to increase awareness of the country's potential and attract more inbound production. In the face of improving incentive schemes offered by other countries' governments, the Thailand International Film Destination Festival focused on promoting international titles shot in Thailand. Over the years, many of those titles have used Thailand to double for another part of Asia – most frequently Vietnam for a spate of Hollywood war films from Casualties of War to The Deer Hunter.

More recent high-profile titles such as The Hangover and Xu Zheng's Lost in Thailand might help drive awareness of what Thailand has to offer but, as neighbor Malaysia has discovered at the Pinewood Iskandar studios, it's not all about the blockbusters. Often the longer-running, lower-profile international titles – especially TV shows – keep people working week in and week out and create better opportunities for developing crew members' skills.

As well as distributors selling product at Filmart, production service companies also promote their services. Thai post-production and visual-effects specialists Yggdrazil and Kantana were both present. While Yggdrazil is probably better known internationally for its work in advertising, Kantana has been well-known in Hong Kong for several years, not least for its work on Wong Kar-Wai's Cannes-premiered 2046.

Other Thai post houses also present in Hong Kong were G2D (the former Technicolor facility in Bangkok) and White Light, which presented prizes at the Hong Kong-Asia Film Financing Forum, which ran alongside Filmart. Sway director Rooth Tang's March April May was among the projects selected for this year's HAF.

Both events form part of the umbrella Hong Kong Entertainment Expo, which draws to a close this weekend with the presentation of the Hong Kong Film Awards and the end of the Hong Kong International Film Festival.

Thai titles playing in this year's HKIFF were Apichatpong Weerasethakul's Cemetery of Splendour, well-travelled since its Cannes premiere 10 months ago, and The Island Funeral by Pimpaka Towira, which won the Best Asian Future Film Award at last year's Tokyo International Film Festival.

Both directors' previous features, Apichatpong's Palme d'Or winner Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives and Pimpaka's One Night Husband respectively, also played in past editions of the Hong Kong fest.

Filmart (14 – 17 March) ran as part of the Hong Kong Entertainment Expo, along with film financing forum/project market HAF (14 – 16 March), and the Hong Kong International Film Festival (21 March – 4 April).

Guest post: Catching up with Rooth Tang at HAF

Rooth Tang on the hunt for backers at HAF. Photo by Keith Barclay.

Keith Barclay is editor of the New Zealand film industry publication Screenz. A sponsored journalist covering Filmart, he offers Wise Kwai's Thai Film Journal tailored coverage of Filmart, the Hong Kong-Asia Film Financing Forum and the Asian Film Awards.

This year’s Hong Kong-Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF) ran in mid-March. From a record-breaking 350+ submissions, 31 projects from 15 countries and regions were selected. Among those 31 was Thai director Rooth Tang's proposed second feature, March April May.

Tang's first feature, Sway, premiered at Toronto in 2014. It had a limited release in Thailand late last year, which the Thai Film Journal reviewed, and later named in its Top 10 Thai films of 2015.

During the events in Hong Kong, Rooth took time out from meeting with potential partners and financiers to talk about his experiences.

The logline for March April May is “Science and spirituality collide when a young woman haunted by hallucinations embarks on a journey to America in the wake of her lover's suicide.”

A story about loss, holding on and letting go, Rooth completed his first draft of the script over a year ago, shortly after the Toronto premiere of Sway. He's spent time since moving it forward, to a point where he considers it “pretty close”. He's storyboarding at present and shared some of those images, although not for publication. The storyboard, Rooth explained, is he preferred tool to work from during a shoot, rather than a script. The script for March April May requires some VFX shots, and storyboarding is helping Tang plan those.

If possible Rooth hopes to reassemble the team he worked with on Sway, partly because Rooth is an admirer of Steven Spielberg's workflow and his commitment to regular team members, partly because he knows what he'll get from people he's worked with before. “It's good to work creatively, and we're a well-oiled machine.”

On a low-budget feature, minimizing risk is a very important part of planning.

Rooth also shared location photos to demonstrate his intentions for the story's color palate, the stark monochrome of a Pennsylvania winter a sharp contrast to the vibrancy of Bangkok streets and the natural warmth of red rock caves in China.

Halfway through the three days of HAF, Rooth had met with several Chinese producers and financiers. While there was interest in his project, there was also quite a lot of discussion about how to marry Tang's vision with China's censorship regulations, particularly around supernatural elements in the story.

There are a number of ways around those regulations, most obviously to create one cut for China and another other territories, so Tang was in no way discouraged. Tang intends March April May's high-concept science-fiction premise to have greater potential for overseas sales than the arthouse-leaning Sway. Also helping drive international interest will be the fact that March April May's story plays out across a number of countries, similar to Sway.

In Thailand as elsewhere, theatrical potential is diminishing for arthouse features. But as one door closes, the Internet opens, and for Sway Tang has sold worldwide online rights excluding Thailand to a video-on-demand platform.

While one Hong Kong project announced a sale during HAF, Tang was more cautious. While some projects at HAF were sharing scripts with potential partners ahead of meetings, Tang planned to share the script for March April May only after HAF closed, and only with the potential partners he was interested in having further discussions with.

Tang moves back and forth between Thailand and the U.S. After HAF, he was heading back to Thailand, taking on editing work to pay the bills as he moves March April May toward production.

The film financing forum HAF (14 – 16 March) ran as part of the Hong Kong Entertainment Expo.

Luang Prabang fest set for December 2-7 with Philippines in the Spotlight

Big crowd for films in the Handicraft Market. LPFF photo.

The dates have been set for the seventh edition of the Luang Prabang Film Festival, which will run from December 2 to 7 in Luang Prabang, the World Heritage Site former royal capital of the Lao PDR. It's a chance to catch up on Southeast Asian films and nothing but Southeast Asian films in a unique and memorable setting.

Francis X Pasion at last year's LPFF.
Photo by Wise Kwai.

This year, the festival plans a Spotlight on the Philippines. The choice is a bittersweet one, since it comes after the death of Filipino director Francis Xavier Pasion, who was at last year's Luang Prabang fest with his well-made and gripping social drama Bwaya (Crocodile). He died on March 6 at age 38, the victim of an apparent heart attack.

Film blogger Oggs Cruz, who serves as the Luang Prabang Film Fest's "Motion Picture Ambassador" for the Philippines, recently reflected on his "final conversation" with Pasion.

The LPFF initiated the Spotlight section last year, devoting a whole day at the festival's daytime venue to Cambodian films. It was a good addition to the festival's regular programming.

"On the back of this great success, LPFF has decided to turn its Spotlight this year to the Philippines. Not only will new works be shown, but a wide-shot perspective on some of the great influences of the past will be included," says the festival's press release. "As one of the region’s most vibrant and prolific industries, this Spotlight on the Philippines will give audiences a lot to talk about."

Programming suggestions come from the Luang Prabang Film Festival's network of "Motion Picture Ambassadors". In addition to Oggs, the others are Sok Visal from Cambodia, Lulu Ratna from Indonesia, Somsanouk Mixay from Laos, Amir Muhammad from Malaysia, Thaiddhi from Myanmar, Aishah Abu Bakar from Singapore, Kong Rithdee from Thailand and Cát Khuê from Vietnam.

They have already submitted their recommendations for this year’s festival, and so the selection process will begin shortly, say the LPFF organizers.

In addition to a line-up of around 30 features, the LPFF will present short films in various venues throughout the historic city, hold industry-focused panel talks and masterclasses and entertain with nightly performances of dance and music.

For more details, check the festival website or Facebook page.

Freelance wins at Bangkok Critics, KCL Awards

Actor Jason Young from F. Hilaire presents the Best Documentary award for The Songs of Rice to producer Pimpaka Towira and director-cinematographer Uruphong Raksasad. Nation photo by Rachanon Intharagsa 

Freelance .. Ham Puay Ham Phak Ham Rak More (ฟรีแลนซ์.. ห้ามป่วย ห้ามพัก ห้ามรักหมอ a.k.a. Heart Attack) is continuing its prize-winning run of Thailand's film and entertainment awards.

On Wednesday, Nawapol Thamrongrattanarit’s hard-working comedy-drama took six prizes in Bangkok Critics Assembly Awards, including Best Film, Director, Actor, Actress and Supporting Actress.

Another major winner was The Blue Hour (Onthakan, อนธการ), It was the leading nominee with 11 nods. The dark gay thriller, which premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival last year and was recently issued on DVD in the U.S., won awards for Best Editing, Production Design and Best Score. And director and co-writer Anucha Boonyawatana was given a special prize, the Young Filmmaker Award.

Uruphong Raksasad repeated his success with his documentary The Songs of Rice (เพลงของข้าว, Pleng Khong Kao). He won Best Documentary and Best Cinematography for his poetic portrait of rice cultivation across Thailand, the same prizes he won at the Subhanahongsa Awards. Producer Pimpaka Towira joined him on stage to collect the acrylic trophy.

And another favorite of Thai critics, P'Chai My Hero a.k.a. How to Win at Checkers (Every Time), picked up one prize, best supporting actor for Thira Chutikul, who played the gay older brother of the movie's 11-year-old lead character. The child star Ingkarat Damrongsakkul had won the supporting actor prize at the Subhanahongsas.

The success for Freelance follows a major haul of Golden Swan trophies at the film industry's Subhanahongsa Awards, where it won eight prizes. Freelance, or rather Heart Attack as its known internationally, has also collected prizes on the film festival circuit, winning the ABC Award for the most entertaining film at the recent Osaka Asian Film Festival. The Nation had more on that.

There's also the Kom Chad Luek Awards, an entertainment kudos ceremony put on for 13 years now by Nation Multimedia and covering film, television and music. It awarded Freelance five prizes – Best Film, Screenplay, Best Supporting Actress, Best Actress and Best Actor. Thira Chutikul of P'Chai My Hero got the supporting actor trophy and bouquet while Anucha and The Blue Hour were upset winners in the Best Director category.

Three winning men at the Critics Awards, from left, Nawapol Thamrongrattanarit and Sunny Suwanmethanon from Freelance and Thira Chutikul of P'Chai My Hero. Nation photo by Rachanon Intharagsa 

• Best Film: Freelance Ham Puay Ham Phak Ham Rak More (Heart Attack)
• Best Director: Nawapol Thamrongrattanarit, Freelance
• Best Actor: Sunny Suwanmethanon, Freelance
• Best Actress: Davika Hoorne, Freelance
• Best Supporting Actor: Thira Chutikul, P'Chai My Hero
• Best Supporting Actress: Violette Wautier, Freelance
• Best Screenplay: Nawapol Thamrongrattanarit, Freelance
• Best Editing: Chonlasit Upanigkit and Anuphap Autta, The Blue Hour
• Best Cinematography: Uruphong Raksasad, Phleng Khong Khao (The Songs of Rice)
• Best Production Design: Phairot Siriwath and Vitune Tulakorn, The Blue Hour
• Best Original Score: Chupvit Temnithikul, The Blue Hour
• Best Song: Sud Sai Ta from The Down
• Best Documentary: The Songs of Rice
• Young Filmmaker Award: Anucha Boonyawatana, The Blue Hour
• Lifetime Achievement Awards: Marasri Israngkool Na Ayuthaya and Sompong Wongrakthai

(Via The Nation)

Sixth Salaya Doc to open with The Scala

The Thai Film Archive's sixth annual Salaya International Documentary Film Festival  opens at 1pm on Saturday with The Scala, a 50-minute made-for-TV piece by Thai filmmaker Aditya Assarat, who takes his cameras inside Siam Square's imperiled landmark cinema.

Although the Scala has been threatened with redevelopment plans for years, the latest word is that it will be in business through 2018, and maybe longer. But Aditya seems resigned to a future without the Scala, and is seemingly bidding it farewell.

Here's Aditya's synopsis:

I always like to watch movies at The Scala. It reminds me of my childhood when all the cinemas in Bangkok were standalone cinemas. At the time, I never thought it was anything special. But now that I am older, I have become nostalgic. There are many things about it I wanted to document: the staff, who are all old now, the space, which is very beautiful, and the ideal, of movie-watching as a special event. In a way, The Scala is similar to all of us who persevere, despite the difficulties, to celebrate cinema in the way we remember it to be.

The Scala opened its doors in 1970. It had one thousand seats and every night, they were filled. In those days, going to the movies was something special. The cinema was a place where people got dressed up, went on dates, and fell in love. But today, everything has changed. There is a multiplex in every mall and the young generation watch movies on their phone. But at The Scala, time has stood still. The cinema is still run by many of the same staff who have been there from the beginning. It is now the last remaining standalone cinema left in Bangkok. And soon, its time will come to an end too. 

The Scala will get just one screening during the sixth edition of Salaya Doc.

Screening at the Busan fest last year, The Scala is part of a special Power of Asian Cinema package, co-produced by the Busan International Film Festival and Korean Broadcasting.

Other Salaya Doc programs are Sense and Sensibility, which groups together documentaries by female directors, and the Asean Documentary Competition, which has entries this year from Vietnam, Myanmar, Singapore, the Philippines and Indonesia.

A major highlight is The Memory of Justice, a 1976 film that looked at wartime atrocities, by the Germans in World War II, and by the Americans in Vietnam. Running 278 minutes, the landmark documentary was recently restored and presented at last year’s Toronto International Film Festival.

Another marathon screening will be Homeland: Iraq Year Zero, an award-winning chronicle of everyday life in Iraq before and after the U.S. invasion. It runs 334 minutes and will be presented in its entirety.

The fest is at the Film Archive in Salaya, Nakhon Pathom, from Saturday through Monday, and then from Tuesday shifts over to the Bangkok Art and Culture Center, where it runs through April 3.

The schedule is embedded below. You can state your interest in attending the opening film and ceremony on the Facebook events page. For more details, please check the fest's Facebook page.

Patong Girl sets Thai release for April 21

Patong Girl, the Thai-German family-holiday drama, is getting a release in Thai cinemas on April 21.

Directed by Susanna Salonen, the production in Thailand was overseen by Bangkok-based De Warrenne Pictures, with co-producer Tom Waller and his crew.

Here's the synopsis:

The Schroeders travel to Thailand for one last family holiday before their youngest son Felix leaves home. In the sleazy alleys and bars of Patong, Felix hopelessly falls in love with the girl Fai. His family are convinced she is a prostitute, but Felix ignores their callous insinuations. He and Fai are having too much fun together. Little does he know she is guarding a special secret...

The film has been making the rounds of special screenings in Bangkok, playing as part of the German Open Air Cinema season and during the recent German Film Week. It'll open in a limited release in Thailand on April 21, playing in SF cinemas. There's a Facebook page promoting that.

Starring Max Mauff and Aisawanya Areyawattana, Patong Girl was recently honored in the 2016 Grimme Preis Awards, the "German television Oscars".

Check the Thai trailer, which for now, can only be viewed below:

Guest post: Assassin strikes nine times at Asian Film Awards

Shu Qui won best actress for The Assassin, which won nine prizes in all.

Keith Barclay is editor of the New Zealand film industry publication Screenz. A sponsored journalist covering Filmart, he offers Wise Kwai's Thai Film Journal tailored coverage of Filmart, the Hong Kong-Asia Film Financing Forum and the Asian Film Awards.

Story and photos by Keith Barclay

Hou Hsiao-hsien's The Assassin was a favorite going into the evening, and left the Asian Film Awards with nine awards including Best Picture, Director and Actress.

The film has been a regular awardee at festivals since it premiered at Cannes last year, where Hou took the Best Director award. the winner of the Lifetime Achievement award at the Asian Film Awards two years ago, Hou wasn't present at the AFA ceremony in Macau, although impressively he was the evening's only absent winner.

Thirty-six films from 10 countries had gone into the AFA ceremony clutching 77 nominations for the 15 juried awards. Coming out at the end of the evening, seven titles had won something, with only The Assassin and Hong Kong feature Port of Call left clutching more than one gong.

Speaking before the event, Best Actor winner Lee Hyung-bun was asked about the diversity challenges facing the Academy in America. Lee said, "It's not only African Americans' problem. I think respect should be given to all races."

The only Thai nominee, Waruntorn Paonil, was up for the Newcomer award for her lead performance in Snap but missed out to Jessie Li from Port of Call. On the red carpet, Paonil had a brief chat with the Wise Kwai's Thai Film Journal correspondent. She shared that since the premiere of Snap at the Tokyo International Film Festival late last year, she's been strongly focused on her singing, and releasing single "Insomnia", without any film projects in the near future.

While Snap has now completed its theatrical release, a book of behind-the-scenes images and information about the film will be published next month.

Musician-actress Waruntorn Paonil was a best newcomer nominee for Snap.

On the 10th edition of the AFAs, there were more honorary awards presented than usual. While they're not competitive, the selections contributed to a sense that the region's three major players hold a pretty tight grip on the trophies. Including the honorary gongs only one of over 20 awards went to someone from beyond China (including Hong Kong and Taiwan), Japan and South Korea.

Korean actress Clara Lee, named a Rising Star the previous evening by the AFAA, hosted the awards.

Begun in 2007 by the Hong Kong International Film Festival, the Asian Film Awards is now run by the Asian Film Awards Academy, founded by three of the region's major festivals – Busan, Hong Kong and Tokyo. Here are the winners:

• Best film: The Assassin
• Best director: Hou Hsiao-hsien, The Assassin
• Best screenplay: Jia Zhang-Ke, Mountains May Depart (France/Japan/China)
• Best actor: Lee Byung-hun, Inside Men (South Korea)
• Best actress: Shu Qi, The Assassin
• Best newcomer: Jessie Li, Port of Call (Hong Kong)
• Best supporting actor: Asano Tadanobu, Journey to the Shore (France/Japan)
• Best supporting actress: Zhou Yun, The Assassin
• Best production design: Hwarng Wern-Ying, The Assassin
• Best costume design: Lee Ji-yeon, Shim Hyun-seob, The Throne (South Korea)
• Best original music: Lim Giong, The Assassin
• Best sound:  Chu Shih-Yi, Tu Duu-Chih, Wu Shu-Yao, The Assassin
• Best visual effects: Prasad Sutar,Bajirao Mastani (India)
• Best editing: Port of Call (Hong Kong)
• Best cinematography: Mark Lee Ping-Bing,  The Assassin (Hong Kong/China/Taiwan)
• Lifetime achievement award: Kirin Kiki and Yuen Wo-ping
• Asian Box Office Award: Monster Hunt, directed by Raman Hui (China)
• Rising Stars: Clara Lee (South Korea) and Pakho Chau (Hong Kong)
• New Generation: Yoo Ah-in (South Korea)
• Outstanding Contribution to Asian Cinema: Li Qian-kuan (China)
• AFA 10th Anniversary Special Award: Feng Xiaogang (China)

Japanese actress Kirin Kiki received a Lifetime Achievement Award.

Guest post: White Light, G2D present post-production awards at HAF

Lee Chatametikool, right, hands over the White Light Post-Production Award to makers of the Vietnamese film The Third Wife.

Keith Barclay is editor of the New Zealand film industry publication Screenz. A sponsored journalist covering Filmart, he offers Wise Kwai's Thai Film Journal tailored coverage of Filmart, the Hong Kong-Asia Film Financing Forum and the Asian Film Awards.

Story and photo by Keith Barclay

The 14th edition of the Hong Kong-Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF) handed out 14 awards, although not to 14 filmmakers as a number of projects got to visit the stage more than once.

Thai Director Rooth Tang's March April May didn't win an award, but that didn't make the event a failure for him. Bangkok post-production facility White Light sponsored one of the awards, which was won by Vietnamese director Nguyen Phuong Anh's The Third Wife. Nguyen's project also won the headline HAF award.

HAF received a record 350+ project submissions, naming 31 from 15 countries and regions for this year's edition. Not all projects are eligible for consideration for all prizes, but the value of the awards was almost HK$1.5 million in cash and in-kind services.

Organised by the Hong Kong International Film Festival Society, the event saw the festival's former vice chair return for a second year running. Taiwanese actress, director and producer Sylvia Chang last year opened the HKIFF with Murmurs of the Heart. This year, René Liu's Lieutenant Yi, produced by Chang, took HAF's Wanda Film Award.

Other well-known filmmakers visiting the podium were Filipino Lav Diaz, whose A Lullaby To The Sorrowful Mystery recently won a Silver Bear at the Berlinale. In Hong Kong, Diaz's project When the Waves are Gone took HAF's Paris Coproduction Village Award, which will send him back to Europe for the Champs-Elysèes Film Festival's project market.

Three projects took two awards each. Wang Bing's Hong Kong-China documentary project Border Bride took the Fushan award for development and G2D award for post; Wen Muye's China project Dying to Survive took the Artention incubator and iQIYI special awards.

Film financing forum/project market HAF (14 – 16 March), ran as part of the Hong Kong Entertainment Expo, which also includes FILMART (14 – 17 March), and the Hong Kong International Film Festival (21 March – 4 April).

The HAF Awards were presented 16 March in Hong Kong. The winners were:

HAF Awards
Presented by Create Hong Kong, Hong Kong Film Development Fund and the Hong Kong-Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF). Two cash awards of HK$150,000 (approx. US$19,350)

• Hong Kong project award: Vampire Diary, Director Anthony Yan  and Hang Chiu, Producer Ha Yu and Mani Man
• Hong Kong International project award: The Third Wife (working title), Director Nguyen Phuong Anh, Producer Tran Thi Bich Ngoc, Vietnam

iQIYI Special Award
Cash award of HK$100,000 (approx. US$12,900) to encourage and support young film talents from Chinese speaking territories

• Dying to Survive, Director Wen Muye, Producer Ning Hao, China

HAF/Fox Chinese Film Development Award
Cash award of HK$100,000 (approx. US$12,900) to encourage the development of Chinese-language cinema

• Brothers, Director Jong Yu, Producer Jin Ong and Roland Lee, Malaysia

HAF Script Development Fund
Cash award of US$10,000 (approx. HK$77,500) to encourage Chinese-language scripts

• Heavy Craving, Writer/Director Pei-Ju Hsieh, Producer Jing Wang

Wanda Film Award
Cash award of HK$100,000 (approx. US$12,900) to a Chinese-language feature film project for its originality and creativity

• Lieutenant Yi, Director René Liu, Producer Sylvia Chang and Patricia Cheng Lai-chan, Taiwan

Fushan Documentary Award
Cash award of HK$100,000 (approx. US$12,900) for development of a documentary feature

• Border Bride, Director WANG Bing, Producer Isabelle GLACHANT, Hong Kong, China

Wouter Barendrecht Award
Cash award of HK$50,000 (approx. US$6,450), dedicated to the memory of the late Wouter Barendrecht, one of the founders of HAF and Fortissimo Films

• Inking a Last Masterpiece, Director Uchijima Usuke, Producer Kawabata Kohei, Japan

The Artention Film Award
Cash award of HK$50,000 (approx. US$6,450) to encourage projects that exhibit high artistic and commercial potential. Winner will also receive priority entry into Artention Film Incubator

• Dying to Survive, Director Wen Muye, Producer Ning Hao, China

Paris Coproduction Village Award
In-kind award of Euro 4,000 (approx. HK$36,000) for a round-trip ticket to participate in the Paris Coproduction Village of Champs-Elysèes Film Festival 2016

• When the Waves are Gone, Director Lav Diaz, Producer Bianca Balbuena and Bradley Liew, The Philippines

Network of Asian Fantastic Films Award
In-kind award of US$2,700 (approx. HK$20,900) for a round-trip ticket and hotel accommodation to the filmmaker whose project is selected for NAFF

• Hypnotize the Jury, Director Paul Sze Pak-lam and Kenneth Lai Siu-kwan, Producer Tin Kai-man, Hong Kong

Wutianming Post Production Award
In-kind award of RMB 300,000 (approx. HK$350,400) for a selected HAF Chinese project to receive post-production services at Wutianming's post-production base in Tianjin

• Lhamo and Skalbe, Director Sonthar Gyal, Producer Sonam Rinchen Gyal, China

White Light Post-Production Award
In-kind award of US$15,000 (approx. HK$116,200) for post-production services by White Light Studio in Bangkok

• The Third Wife (working title), Director Nguyen Phuong Anh, Producer Tran Thi Bich Ngoc, Vietnam

G2D Post-Production Award
In-kind award of US$10,000 (approx.HK$77,500) for post-production works at G2D in Bangkok

• Border Bride, Director Wang Bing, Producer Isabelle Glachant, Hong Kong, China

Freelance wins eight prizes at 25th Subhanahongsa Awards

Subhanahongsa winners, from left, Best Supporting Actress Violette Wautier, Best Actor Sunny Suwanmethanon, Best Actress Davika Hoorne, Best Director Nawapol Thamrongrattanarit of Freelance and Best Supporting Actor Ingkarat Damrongsakkul of P’Chai My Hero. Nation photo by Chalinee Thirasupa.

Like pimples on its main character's back, more trophies are popping up for Nawapol Thamrongrattanarit and Freelance Ham Puay Ham Phak Ham Rak More (Heart Attack).

The indie writer-director's first directorial effort with a big studio swept up most of the prizes at the 25th Subhanahongsa Awards, the Thailand National Film Association Awards or Golden Swan Awards, which are Thailand's industry equivalent of the Oscars.

Freelance won best film and best director. Sunny Suwanmethanon was named best actor for his role as a freelance graphic artist who works so hard he comes down with a rash. Davika Hoorne took the best actress prize for her turn as the achingly lonely young resident physician at a public hospital who treats Sunny's overworked worker. And Violette Wautier took the supporting actress prize for her disarmingly droll turn as Sunny's character's graphic-arts agent and best friend.

Freelance also took the prizes for best editing (by up-and-coming young filmmaker Chonlasit Upanigkit, who also edited Nawapol's Mary Is Happy and 36, and was a double nominee this year for editing The Blue Hour).

But the screenplay prize was split between Freelance and another leading nominee and critical favorite, indie writer-director Kongdej Jaturanrasmee's Snap.

The tie was the likely result of an experimental new voting system instituted for the awards by the Federation of National Film Associations of Thailand. The Nation has more on that.

Snap also won for Recording and Sound Mixing (by Sarawut Phantha and Akrichalerm Kalayanamitr) and Art Direction by Rasiguet Sookkarn (another up-and-coming young filmmaker).

Another leading nominee was the indie coming-of-age comedy-drama How to Win at Checkers (Every Time) a.k.a. P'Chai My Hero. It won the supporting actor trophy for the remarkable performance by child actor Ingkarat Damrongsakkul, who was essentially playing the lead.

And much-deserved kudos were given to Uruphong Raksasad for The Songs of Rice, which won best documentary and, of course, best cinematography.

Another winner was the teen horror thriller Runpee, which shared the best song prize and won for visual effects. The movie marked the return to the industry by veteran director Wisit Sasanatieng.

Here's the list of winners:

• Best Film: Freelance Ham Puay Ham Phak Ham Rak More
• Best Director: Nawapol Thamrongrattanarit, Freelance
• Best Actor: Sunny Suwanmethanon, Freelance
• Best Actress: Davika Hoorne, Freelance
• Best Supporting Actor: Ingkarat Damrongsakkul, P’Chai My Hero
• Best Supporting Actress: Violette Wautier Freelance
• Best Screenplay: Kongdej Jaturanrasamee, Snap, and Nawapol Thamrongrattanarit, Freelance
• Best Film Editing: Chonlasit Upanigkit, Freelance
• Best Cinematography: Uruphong Raksasad, Phleng Khong Khao (The Songs of Rice)
• Best Recording and Sound Mixing: Sarawut Phantha, Akrichalerm Kalayanamitr, Snap
• Best Art Direction: Rasiguet Sookkarn, Snap
• Best Original Score: Hualampong Riddim, Freelance
• Best Song: Ther Dern Khao Ma from Runpee and Sud Sai Ta from The Down
• Best Documentary: The Songs of Rice
• Best Costume Design: Sukanya Maruangpradit, F Hiliare
• Best Make Up Effects: Methaphan Pitithunyapat, Phi Ha Ayothaya
• Best Visual Effects: Alternat Studio, Runpee
• Best Documentary: Songs of Rice
• Lifetime Achievement Award: Jaroen "See Thao" Petchjaroen

In Thai cinemas: Love Say Hey and the return of the 9FilmFest

High-school seniors have to figure out how to balance love, friendship and their studies as they work to make a film together for their graduation project in Love Say Hey .. Yaak Say Wa Rak Ther (เลิฟเซเฮ.. อยากเซว่ารักเธอ).

Napat Jaitientum directs. He previously directed the gay romances, last year's Love Love You and 2014's Love's Coming.



Tomorrow, the 9FilmFest returns, with a screening of this year's finalist entries at the Friese-Greene Club, which is really just perfect for 9FilmFest because it has just nine seats in its boutique cinema. The show starts at 8. For more details, check the Facebook event page.

After taking a hiatus of a year or so, the 9FilmFest organized an online contest. Here are this year's winners:

• Best film: Uncle Aunty, Pankul Gupta, India
• Best director: Accomodations, Mikos Zavros, USA
• Best script: The Radio, Nuttorn Kungwanklai, Thailand
• Best cineatography: The Blue Room, Alhamdu LiLlah, Germany
• Best actress: Richa Kapoor, Uncle Aunty
• Best actor: Vijay Kalia, Uncle Aunty

Other finalists were Benjamin, Fish and Ice Cream by Mehmaz Rezvanfard from Iran; Flour Thailand-based John Lamond, The Most Beautiful Girl by Katon Thammavijidej of Thailand, In the Silence by Aroonakorn Pick of Thailand and Let Go by Sean Nellis of the UK.

For more information, check www.facebook.com/9filmfest, and see the 9FilmFest YouTube channel for this year's finalist entries.

Other happenings in Thai cinemas this week include the first 3D screenings at the Thai Film Archive on Saturday, which will show Pina and Every Thing Will Be Fine as part of Wim Wenders: A Retrospective, German Film Week at Paragon Cineplex and new experimental short films from around the world in Signes De Nuit in Bangkok at the Reading Room.

That's all in addition to usual new film openings, including Hail, Caesar!, London Has Fallen and the South Korean thriller Office.

Freelance earns prizes at Thai Film Director Awards

The winners of the Thai Film Director Assocation. Photo via TFDA, used by permission.

The Thai Film Director Association (สมาคมผู้กำกับภาพยนตร์ไทย) points the way when it comes to film awards in Thailand, officially kicking off the Kingdom's film-kudos season last Sunday by awarding five of its prizes – best film, best director, best actor, best actress and best supporting actress – to Freelance.

Writer-director Nawapol Thamrongrattanarit and actress Davika Hoorne were among the figures on hand to grab the attractive trophy, which is in the shape of the TFDA logo, a hand with a pointing finger.

Other prizes in the sixth edition of the TFDA Awards went to May Who? – the last feature from GTH before it broke up and reformed as GDH 559 – and Snap.

Runner-up certificates included the indie brotherhood drama How to Win at Checkers (Every Time) for best film and Kongdej Jaturanrasmee was awarded runner-up best director for his indie romance Snap.

The indie thriller The Blue Hour (Onthakarn), the M-Thirtynine comedy Miss Happy and Sahamongkol's giant snake drama Mae Bia also collected certificates.

In addition, the TFDA also recognizes the best assistant directors, with the crews from Freelance and Snap getting pats on their backs. For Nawapol, they were first assistant directof Parama Malakul Na Ayutthaya and second Ad Therawit Srisiri. Kongdej's team were 1st AD Pipat Jomkoh with Tippawan Narintorn and Kanachat Limthammahisorn as 2nd and 3rd AD.

Here's the list of other winners:

• Best Film: Heart Attack (Freelance)
• Runner-up best film: How to Win at Checkers (Every Time) a.k.a. P'Chai My Hero)
• Best Director: Nawapol Thamrongrattanarit, Heart Attack (Freelance)
• Runner-up best director: Kongdej Jaturanrasamee, Snap
• Best Actor: Sunny Suwanmethanon, Heart Attack
• Runner-up best actor: Toni Rakkaen, Snap
• Best Actress: Davika Hoorne, Heart Attack (Freelance)
• Runner-up best actress: Sutatta Udomsilp, May Nhai (May Who?)
• Best Supporting Actor: Thanapob Leeratanakajorn May Nhai (May Who?)
• Runner-up best supporting actors: "Ben" Chalatit Tantiwut, Miss Happy (Paa Happy She Taa Yuh and Oabnithi Wiwattanawarang, The Blue Hour
• Best Supporting Actress: Violette Wautier, Heart Attack (Freelance)
• Runner-up best supporting actress: Arpa Pawilai (Mae Bia)
• Lifetime Achievement Award: Jazzsiam (Silhouette of God a.k.a. Kon Song Jao)

More details can be found at the TFDA's Facebook page.

(Thanks to Manussa Vorasingha for all assistance!)

Freelance leads nominations for Subhanahongsas and Bangkok Critics

Hollywood's awards season is over, with the awarding of the Oscars on Sunday night. But now the Thai film scene is gearing up for its own onslaught of trophies, with nominees listed for two major awards, the industry's own Subhanahongsa Awards (รางวัลภาพยนตร์แห่งชาติ สุพรรณหงส์), put on by the Federation of Film Associations of Thailand, and the Bangkok Critics Assembly Awards (ชมรมวิจารณ์บันเทิง).

The leading nominee is Freelance, which is listed in most categories. Other leading nominees include P'Chai My Hero, a.k.a How to Win at Checkers (Every Time), Snap, May Nhai and The Blue Hour. There's an article in The Nation that has more details.

The Subhanahongsa Golden Swan trophies will be given out on March 13 at the Siam Pic-Ganesha Theatre in Siam Square One, while the Bangkok Critics Assembly Awards will held on March 23 at the Royal Thai Army Club.

Ready for this? Here are the nominees for both awards.

25th Thailand National Film Assocation Awards nominees

Best Film

• Snap
• P’Chai My Hero
• Freelance Ham Puay Ham Phak Ham Rak More
• Arpatti
• Onthakan

Best Director

• Josh Kim, P’Chai My Hero
• Nawapol Thamrongrattanarit, Freelance
• Anucha Boonyawatana, The Blue Hour
• Chayanop Boonpakob, May Nhai

Best Actor

• Sunny Suwanmethanon, Freelance
• Toni Rakkaen, Snap
• Thiti Mahayotharak, May Nhai?
• Atthaphan Poonsawas, Onthakan
• Thira Chutikul, P’Chai My Hero

Best Actress

• Davika Hoorne, Freelance
• Ploy Sornnarin, Arpatti
• Pimchanok Luevisadpaibul, 2538 Alter Ma Jive
• Waruntorn Paonil, Snap
• Sutatta Udomsilp, May Nhai

Best Supporting Actor

• Krisana Panpeng, Snap
• Torpong Chantabubpha, Freelance
• Ingkarat Damrongsakkul, P’Chai My Hero
• Thanapop Leeratanakajorn, May Nhai
• Obnithi Wiwatanawarang Onthakan
• Sorapong Chatree, Arpatti

Best Supporting Actress

• Duangjai Hiransri, Onthakan
• Nareekul ketprapakorn, May Nhai
• Pympan Chalayanacupt, Arpatti
• Violette Wautier, Freelance
• Arpa Phawilai, Mae Bia

Best Screenplay

• Kongdej Jaturanrasamee, Snap
• Josh Kim, P’Chai My Hero
• Nawapol Thamrongrattanarit, Freelance
• Anucha Boonyawatana and Wasuthep Ketpetch, Onthakan
• Chayanop Boonpakob, Vasuthorn Piyarom, Nottapon Boonprakob, Thodsapon Thiptinnakor, May Nhai

Best Editing

• Kamontorn Ekwatanakij, P’Chai My Hero
• Chonlasit Upanigkit, Freelance
• Panayu Kunvanlee, May Nhai
• Chonlasit Upanigkit and Anuphap Autta, The Blue Hour
• Kamontorn Ekwatanakij and Manussa Worrasingh, Snap

Best Cinematography

• Charnkit Chamnivikaipong, F Hiliare
• Uruphong Raksasad, Phleng Khong Khao (The Songs of Rice)
• Niramol Ross, Freelance
• Chaiyaphruk Chalermpornpanich and Kamonphan Ngewthong, Onthakan
• MR Ampornpol Yukol, Snap

Best Recording and Sound Mixing

• Kantana Sound Studio, Freelance
• Kantana Sound Studio, May Nhai
• Noppawat Likhitwong/ Onecool Sound Studio, Onthakan
• Sarawut Phantha Akrichalerm Kalayanamitr, Snap
• Ram Intra Sound Studio Arpatti

Best Art Direction

• Rasiguet Sookkarn, Snap
• Phairot Siriwath, Freelance
• Phairot Siriwath, Onthakan
• Akradej Kaewkote, May Nhai
• Salinee Khemjaras, Tee Wang Rawang Samut (The Isthmus)

Best Original Score

• Chaibandit Peuchponsub, Snap
• Bodvar Isbjornsorn, P’Chai My Hero
• Hualampong Riddim, Freelance
• Hualampong Riddim, May Nhai
• Chupvit Temnithikul Onthakan

Best Song

• Ther Dern Khao Ma from Runpee
• Mai Me Ther, from Latitude 6
• Nhai Nhai from May Nhai
• Sai Tai from 2538 Alter Ma Jive
• Sud Sai Ta from The Down

Best Documentary

• Y/our Music
• The Down
• The Songs of Rice

Best Costume Design

• Suthee Muanwaja, May Nhai
• Phim Umari, Rujirumpai Mongkol, P’Chai My Hero
• Wasitchaya Mojanakul, Mon Love Sib Muen
• Wasana Benjachat, Freelance
• Sukanya Maruangpradit, F Hiliare

Best Make Up Effects

• Benjawan Sroy-in, Freelance
• Methaphan Pitithunyapat, Phee Ha Ayothaya
• Pongrat Kijbamrung, F Hiliare
• Pattera Puttisuraseat, Runpee
• Sivakorn Suklangkan, Arpatti

Best Visual Effects

• Surreal Sutdio, Arpatti
• Thanan Chimprasert, Mon Son Phee (Ghost Ship)
• Thosaporn Poonnart, Phee Ha Ayothaya
• Alternat Studio, Runpee
• Yggdrazil Group Co and Riff Animation Studio, May Nhai

Lifetime Achievement Award

• Jaroen "See Thao" Petchjaroen

25th Bangkok Critics Assembly Awards nominees

Best Film

• Snap
• P’Chai My Hero (How to Win at Checkers (Every Time))
• Freelance Ham Puay Ham Phak Ham Rak More (Heart Attack)
• May Nhai Fai Raeng Fer (May Who?)
• Onthakan (The Blue Hour)

Best Director

• Josh Kim, P’Chai My Hero
• Nawapol Thamrongrattanarit, Freelance
• Anucha Boonyawatana, Onthakan
• Uruphong Raksasad, Phleng Khong Khao (The Songs of Rice)
• Chayanop Boonpakob, May Nhai

Best Actor

• Jason Young, F Hilaire
• Sunny Suwanmethanon, Freelance
• Thiti Mahayotharak, May Nhai
• Atthaphan Poonsawas Onthakan
• Ingkarat Damrongsakkul, P’Chai My Hero

Best Actress

• Davika Hoorne ,Freelance
• Taya Rogers, Love Sucks
• Pimchanok Luevisadpaibul, Cat A Wabb # Baeb Wa Rak Ah
• Waruntorn Paonil, Snap
• Sutatta Udomsilp, May Nhai

Best Supporting Actor

• Danai Jarujinda, Arpatti
• Thira Chutikul, P’Chai My Hero
• Thanapop Leeratanakajorb, May Nhai
• Obnithi Wiwatanawarang, Onthakan
• Soraphong Chatree, Arpatti

Best Supporting Actress

• Duangjai Hiransri, Onthakan
• Nareekul ketprapakorn, May Nhai
• Ploy Sornarin, Arpatti
• Violette Wautier, Freelance
• Arpa Phawilai, Phee Ha Ayothaya

Best Screenplay

• Kongdej Jaturanrasamee, Snap
• Josh Kim, P’Chai My Hero
• Nawapol Thamrongrattanarit, Freelance
• Anucha Boonyawatana and Wasuthep Ketpetch, Onthakan
• Chayanop Boonpakob, Vasuthorn Piyarom, Nottapon Boonprakob, Thodsapon Thiptinnakorn, May Nhai

Best Editing

• Uruphong Raksasad, The Songs of Rice
• Kamontorn Ekwatanakij, P’Chai My Hero
• Chonlasit Upanigkit, Freelance
• Panayu Kunvanlee, May Nhai
• Chonlasit Upanigkit and Anuphap Autta, Onthakan

Best Cinematography

• Phuttipong Aroonpheng, Vanishing Point
• Uruphong Raksasad, The Songs of Rice
• Niramol Ross, Freelance
• Chaiyaphruk Chalermpornpanich and Kamonphan Ngewthong, Onthakan
• Kittipat Jinathong, Arpatti

Best Art Direction

• Vikrom Janpanus, Vanishing Point
• Rasiguet Sookkarn, P’Chai My Hero
• Ek Iemchuen, F Hilaire
• Phairot Siriwath and Chaiwat Boonsoongnern, Freelance
• Phairot Siriwath and Vitune Tulakorn, Onthakan

Best Original Score

• Wuttipong Leetrakul, The Songs of Rice
• Bodvar Isbjornson, P’Chai My Hero
• Hualampong Riddim, Freelance
• Hualampong Riddim and Vichaya Vatanasapt, May Nhai
• Chupvit Temnithikul, Onthakan

Best Song

• Jai..Jai from Kyushu...Laew Phrung Nee Rao Khong Ja Roo Kan
• Phra Arthit Thiang Khuen
• from Water BoyyYorm from Khuen Nan
• Rao Me Rao from Khun Thongdaeng: The Inspirations
• Sud Sai Ta from The Down

Best Documentary

• Y/our Music
• The Guitar King
• Kyushu
• Mard Phayak
• The Down
• The Songs of Rice

Young Filmmaker Award

• Josh Kim, P’Chai My Hero
• Kanittha Kwunyoo, Arpatti
• Jakrawal Nilthamrong, Vanishing Point
• Surussavadi Chuarchart, F Hilaire
• Anucha Boonyawatana, Onthakan

Lifetime Achievement Awards

• Marasri Israngkool Na Ayuthaya
• Sompong Wongrakthai