The organisers behind Thailand’s Suphannahong National Film Awards have dropped a rule that would effectively disqualify independent features from nomination following a major backlash.
A recent rule change by the National Federation of Motion Pictures and Contents Associations (MPC) stated that theatrical releases in five regions of Thailand and a minimum of 50,000 cinema admissions were required for a film to be considered for nomination. These regions include Bangkok, Chiangmai (the north), Chonburi (the east), Nakhon Ratchasima (the northeast) and Nakhon Si Thammarat (the south).
It meant that, earlier this week, 11 independent Thai films were notified they would not be eligible for the awards, including Jakrawal Nilthamrong’s Anatomy Of Time, which premiered at Venice and won the grand prize at Tokyo Filmex, and Anocha Suwichakornpong’s Come Here, which was selected for the Berlinale. Their theatrical releases did not meet the criteria.
This sparked a backlash from the Thai film industry that included prominent filmmakers Banjong Pisanthanakun and Baz Poonpiriya, cinema chain SF Cinema, and production and sales company Hollywood (Thailand).
“These are harsh conditions for Thai indie films, which simply cut them out from the awards,” Anucha Boonyawatana, president of Thai Film Directors Association, told Screen. Anucha’s Malila: The Farewell Flower won best film at the Suphannahong Awards in 2019.
“The distribution is complex in Thailand,” she explained. “Regional distributors will offer a flat fee for the regions outside Bangkok, but it’s an unfair system as there are very few distributors in each region and they work like a monopoly.
“Every filmmaker wants to show their film in every region. They can negotiate directly with cinemas in Bangkok and sometimes Chiangmai. But for the rest of the country, even if cinemas are willing to show their films, the filmmakers have to go through the regional distributors who usually prefer commercial films, which put the indie filmmakers at a disadvantage.”
Calls for boycott
Once the news of the new regulation broke, fellow Thai filmmakers took to social media to show support for the affected films while some even calling for a boycott of the awards using the hashtag #BanSuphannahong.
They include Banjong whose The Medium dominated the awards in 2021; One For The Road director Baz; Adisorn Tresirikasem, director of box office hit Love Destiny: The Movie; Nawapol Thamrongrattanarit, director of Fast And Feel Love; Nottapon Boonprakob, director of documentary Come And See; Kongdej jaturanrassamee, co-director of Faces Of Ann; Nonzee Nimibutr, Chookiat Sakveerakul and several others.
To fight for the rights of indie filmmakers, Anucha took part in a popular TV programme, which was broadcast live on Thailand’s Channel 3 today (March 31), alongside Tanwarin Sukkhapisit, former president of the Thai Film Directors Association, and producer Chalermchatri “Adam” Yukol, whose Remember 15 is among the 11 affected titles.
Prince Chatrichalerm Yukol, father of Chalermchatri and renowned director of historical epics The Legend of Suriyothai and King Naresuan, phoned in during the live debate, calling the new rule “bullshit”.
“You can’t use that rule. Cinema is cinema. Filmmaking must be independent,” he said. “Dissolve the MPC and rebuild it. As the national artist, this is what I should say.”
Representing the MPC at the live debate was secretary Pornchai Wongsriudomporn, the former COO of M Pictures, a subsidiary of cinema chain Major Cineplex. Explaining the need for the new regulation during the TV programme, he said that Thai audiences may not know the independent films well and if they win, they will affect the popularity of the awards and hence [the confidence of] the sponsors.
Following the broadcast and a further internal meeting with the Thai Film Directors Association, the MPC issued a statement of apology, withdrawing the new rule and making it more inclusive for independent films. A film that has received a commercial release in cinemas or alternative art space for at least seven days will now be eligible for the awards.
Screen reached out to MPC for comment but it had not responded at time of publication.
Independent Thai films that have previously won top prizes at the Suphannahong Awards include Aditya Assarat’s Wonderful Town, Kongdej’s Tang Wong, Lee Chatametikool’s Concrete Clouds and Anocha’s By The Time It Gets Dark. These films tend to garner international recognition through film festivals but were mostly released only in Bangkok on a single screen.
No comments yet