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!)