Our top picks for upcoming indie films here.

Best Motion Picture
ANTAPAL

In telling the story of Bangkok’s notorious 1950s gangster culture, Antapal was always going to have a tough time escaping the shadow cast by 2499 (1998), Nonzee Nimibutr’s celebrated action film. But director Kongkiat Khomsiri’s fresh take on the genre shoots straight in its portrayal of a Thai society struggling to come to grips with rapid progress, meaning Antapal successfully and beautifully side-steps any remake pitfalls to become the must-watch movie of the year.

Best Actress in a Leading Role
PENPAK SIRIKUL (It Gets Better)

We never doubted the acting brilliance of Penpak Sirikul, but faced with the challenge of convincing us she’s a male-to-female transgender in It Gets Better, the silver-screen veteran put in possibly the most convincing performance of her career. Hats off to director Thanwarin Sukhaphisit for a wonderfully believable script, too.  

Best Actor in a Leading Role
KRISSADA SUKOSOL CLAPP (Antapal)

As George, the best mate of legendary gangster Daeng Bireley, Krissada “Noi” Sukosol is superb in what quickly grows to be the lead role in Antapal. With his cool, calm and collected demeanor throughout, Krissada helps to strip away the image of the classic, reckless gangster and is one of the crucial factors behind the runaway success of Kongkiat Khomsiri’s film.         

Best Supporting Actor
DAVID ASSAVANOND (Countdown)

Without a doubt, GTH’s Countdown was one of the biggest surprises of the year. Finally taking a break from the tired teenage rom-coms, the film studio delivered a more-than-solid dark thriller, even if it wasn’t quite the finished article. What really impressed us though was David Assavanond, starring in the role of a mysterious marijuana seller named Jesus. Stealing every scene he appeared in, the Tom Yam Goong star plays the ultimate uninvited guest: you can’t help but love him, even when he's at his most frightening.

Best Supporting Actress
PIYATHIDA “POK” WORAMUSIK (Together)

Piyathida “Pok” Woramusik followed up her stand-out performance in 2011’s Ladda Land with another star-turn in Together. Here, she bravely plays the role of Nuan, the mother of a young daughter who stands by her husband as he grows increasingly erratic after suffering an accident that renders him blind.

Best Newcomer
PREECHAYA “ICE” PONGTHANANIKORN (ATM)

Even though GTH’s rom-com adopts the Korean penchant for overacting, first-timer Ice Preechaya still manages to impress us with her assured character acting—no mean feat.

Best Script
P-047 and 36

It’s hard to split these two arty films, both of which pose more questions than they look to answer. Kongdej Jaturanrasamee’s first indie production, P-047, plays with the concept of personal identity, blurring the line between imagination and reality and leaving it to the audience to figure things out for themselves. Meanwhile, 36, by Third Class Citizens founder Nawapol Thamrongrattanarit, interestingly raises the question of whether memory still exists in this era of analogue and digital recordings. Two mind-bending but ultimately rewarding scripts.

Best Director
KONGKIAT KHOMSIRI (Antapal)

The Best Film and Best Director awards don’t always go hand-in-hand, but we simply love Kongkiat’s ability to give a whole new perspective on a story that’s already been told (and told very well, indeed). And unlike many other Thai directors, he doesn’t feel the need to over-moralize, exploring the changing face of the Thai gangster in a rapidly evolving society with a skilled eye. Oh, and the way he intersperses the story with real footage adds a whole new level of signifigance. 

Worst Picture
407

You might think it’s weird that our Best Director, Kongkiat Khomsiri, is also the one who wrote the script for our Worst Film, but, well, have you seen 407? If you have, please accept our utmost commiserations. If not, all you need to know is that it’s about a haunted plane. No, there’s nothing more to the plot. 407 is just like watching a group of people run around acting scared without any real reason. Kongkiat, what were you thinking?

Biggest Letdown
SHAMBHALA

Hi guys, we’re making a film featuring two of Thailand’s biggest film stars, Ananda Everingham and Sunny Suwanmethanon, and we’re going to shoot it amid the stunning glacier-tipped mountains of Tibet. What could possibly go wrong? Let us count the ways: a shallow plot and a director unable to make the tense situation between Wut (Sunny) and Tin (Ananda) in any way plausible, for starters. Unfortunately, what we ended up with was just another TAT-sponsored road movie (for the wrong country) instead of the best Thai film in history.

The ‘Almost There’ Picture
HOME

Directed and written by Chukiat “Madiew” Sakveerakul (Love of Siam), Home boasts a catchy original soundtrack and impressive acting from Penpak Sirikul and Pitch Wiwisit. Yet it still reeks of three short films forced together rather than organically bonded. Sure, each segment provides a heart-warming look at love across three generations, but Chukiat seems to be copying straight from the ‘How to Make The Audience Cry’ guidebook rather than offering up the sincere scenes we were treated to in Love of Siam.

Worst Remake/Adaptation
JAN DARA: THE BEGINNING

Mom Noi strikes again. Last year, the remake of his Rashomon in The Outrage won this gong. Now we would like to bestow the title of Worst Remake/Adaptation on Jan Dara: The Beginning. Proving that bigger is not better, this erotic period piece is heavy on the gratuitous sex scenes and light on plot detail, character development and pretty much everything else that makes a good film. A dishonorable mention must go to young Mario Maurer, who is unable to transcend his innocent looks to inject any sort of real emotion into his portrayal of the pained Jan. The worst thing? There’s a sequel. Read our review of Jan Dara: Epilogue in +film, page 32.

Best Original Soundtrack
PRA YOK BOK LAO (Shambhala)

While Shambhala was a massive disappointment, its original soundtrack from Lek Trakulpadejkrai aka Greasy Café very nearly makes up for it. Here, Lek delivers another of his signature emotional power-ballads. The lyrics of “Pra Yok Bok Lao” cleverly touch on the themes of the film, all atop some soaring guitar and marching drums that trump the film for grandeur—and hint at what might have been.

Best Thai Animation (Ever)
YAK

Six years after Khan Kluay, it seems we’re finally producing full-length animations we can honestly call world class (OK, not consistently, as Echo Planet sadly reminded us). Yak’s production, courtesy of Workpoint Entertainment, is simply masterful, transporting the ancient Ramayana epic to the world of the robots. A great adventure for all.

Most Annoying Repeat Actor
ARAK “PAE” AMORNSUPASIRI

Despite quitting his super stylish Brit-pop band Slur to devote his time to his solo Bob Dylan-inspired project, Arak and the Peesaj Band, Pae still found the time to feature in three major films last year. Please Pae, don’t become the next Ananda.

Best Documentary
THE CHEER AMBASSADORS

Directed by long-term expat Luke Cassady-Dorian, The Cheer Ambassadors is a behind-the-scenes look at the Thai cheerleading team and their struggles to win the World Cheerleading Championship. This documentary impressively delivers and, despite dealing with some tough moments, is guaranteed to put a smile on your face.

Best Indie Flick
36

By winning the New Currents Award at the 2012 Busan International Film Festival and screening at this year’s International Film Festival Rotterdam, Nawapol Thamrongrattanarit’s first full-length, 36, has wowed international audiences. And yet the film only got a limited local screening last year. Thankfully, the DVD can be purchased at House RCA and FA Cinematique at BACC. See our interview with the director, this page.  

Most Annoying Repeat Actress
KOH TEE

OK, Koh Tee is technically a “him,” but in most of the films in which he stars –Valentines Sweety, Plon Na Ya, Hor Teaw Tak and Khun Nai Ho—he’s cast in the female role. And we say: enough is enough!

The Eye Candy Award
NICKHUN (7-Something)

The pop sensation stars in the film’s final story, “42.195,” as a mysterious young man who tries to bring a lady he just met (Sukwan Bulakul) back to life through marathon-running. There’s really not much to his performance and we feel a little uncomfortable every time Nichkhun mumbles his words. But we forgive him—it is his first time on screen after all and he looks just as lovely as ever.

Best Feel Good Movie
YAK

Its advanced animation is not the only good thing about Yak. The story, the brainchild of writer, composer, thinker and co-founder of WorkPoint Entertainment, Prapas Cholsaranon, transforms the Ramayana epic into a heartwarming look at the relationship between sworn enemies, Ram and Tosakanth.

[ CHINA ] Hilton Zhongshan Downtown
A project by Hilton Worldwide and The Lihe Group, new China hotel the Hilton Zhongshan Downtown is housed in multi-concept commercial, residential, retail and entertainment mega complex Lihe Plaza. The hotel has 459 rooms with Peter Thomas Roth toiletries, private bath tubs and sweeping views of the Zhongshan skyline. There’s also restaurant 360°, which offers Asian and Western fare, My China for Cantonese and Asian hotpot and Spanish establishment Il Ponte on the 58^th floor.

[ CHINA ] Park Hyatt Shanghai
Located in the Shanghai World Financial Center Tower (79th to 93rd floors), this establishment was designed by New York firm Kohn Pedersen Fox of New York. Overlooking the Huangpu River, the 174-room hotel offers great food and beverage options including 100 Century Avenue Restaurant and Bar Level 87.

[ CHINA ] The Splendor Kaohsiung
This luxe hotel high up in what was the tallest building in Taiwan until Taipei 101 came along (the building is even shaped like the Chinese character for “tall”) has a 40th floor swimming pool.

[ HONG KONG ] The Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong
The crowning glory of Kowloon’s 488-meter International Commerce Centre building, each of the hotel's 312 rooms includes a telescope, plus a sky high swimming pool.

[ THAILAND ] Baiyoke Sky Hotel
The Baiyoke Sky Hotel boasts 88 floors and 658 guest rooms, with an outdoor pool and rotating observation deck on the 84th floor. Set in the heart of the Pratunam's fashion district, the conveniently located establishment nearby prime retail outlets on Siam and Petchaburi Roads.

Naked Astronaught

Mattnimare

Withyouathome

BeforeChamp

Summer Dress

Chladni Chandi

Who are they: Chawalit “Yong” Saowapakpongchai (vocals and guitar), Sompop “Ben” Suwanwattanakul (bass) and Thanawut “Meng” Sriwatthanah (drums)
Label: Panda Records
Listen: www.facebook.com/chladnichandi; www.deezer.com/en/album/6050651
What we say: Chladni Chandi have quickly built a reputation for their progressive psychedelic rock that incorporates Indian instruments, like the sitar, and poetic lyrics that espouse Buddhist beliefs. The three-piece’s debut album Tri is awash with vocals that imitate Buddhist chants blended with multi-layered percussion and guitars. A rich and enriching listening experience, regardless of any religious undertones.
What the experts say: "Their sound is a mix of 60s-70s psychedelic rock with world instruments and religious aspects. Contemporary and experimental. The lyrics are really beautiful, cleverly using old and rare Thai words. The compositions are in the Thai traditional poem style but it feels modern. Musically, the band does what it likes and it’s interesting. It’s good Thai contemporary music for the ages.” — Pok Stylish Nonsense
Catch them next: Feb 16 at Bukruk Street Art Festival.

Developed from military obstacle course training in France, parkour, aka free running, is all about getting around on foot while avoiding obstacles through running and jumping great distances—and heights. Curious? Parkour Generations Asia will be demonstrating their skills at the Bukruk opening party on Feb 16.

Launched in March 2012, Parkour Generations Asia is also the first to offer indoor parkour classes in Thailand. Having expanded from Europe and America, the collective of parkour trainers run classes for children and adults, and also provide professional performers for movies and commercials. The coaching team is led by Stephane Vigroux, one of the pioneers of the sport who trained with the sport’s founder David Belle from the age of 16. Classes are 90 minutes and cover both indoor and outdoor parkour. The schedule is as follows: Monday indoor at the Capital Club (Sukhumvit Soi 24) 7:30-9pm; Tuesday outdoor at Benjakiti Park 6-7:30pm and 7-8:30pm; and Monday youth indoor at The Capital Club 10-11am. Class fees are B500 for drop-in, B3,500 for ten classes and B6,000 for 20 classes.
10/95-97 Sukhumvit Soi 13, Sukhumvit Rd., 081-001-2390

Is there really a difference between cheap and expensive jeans?
Of course, with designer jeans you get a better cut, wash and finishing, but the quality of the material is more or less the same to the average person. Whether it’s a cheap or an expensive pair, the most important thing is to look good in it.

What do you think of people splurging on expensive pairs?
If they can afford it, why not? The priciest piece I’ve altered is a pair from Dior Homme—they cost about $3,000 and were definitely a good-looker.

How do you know if the jeans fit well?
Check the tightness around the upper thighs and hips. If it’s too tight and you can’t squat in it, get one size bigger.

The one principle that you follow when it comes to alterations?
To be attuned to different body shapes and how a pair of jeans, after alterations, can flatter the body.

Michael Chua’s services are available at CJ Apparels.

Uniqlo Ultra Stretch 

Skinny jeans aren’t always the most comfortable, but Uniqlo is saying otherwise with its new Ultra Stretch Jeans for women ($69.90). They feature a revolutionary fabric with 40 percent stretch and 90 percent shape retention. That means you can possibly handle a few yoga poses in one without ripping it apart or expanding its shape. With a snug fit, these jeans also enhance your silhouette, allegedly giving you a tauter butt and trimmer, longer gams. The latest collection features a range of eight colors including burgundy, green and blue amid the dark hues.

Replay Social Denim

Social media addicts, this one’s for you. Italian denim label Replay has launched the first Social Denim (from $379), jeans fitted with a Bluetooth device that allows you to update your social networks on the go. How it works: Pair the transmitter with your smartphone via a dedicated app, then you’re ready to broadcast your location and moods. There are eight different mood settings, from positive to negative to choose from. Made to allow for simple, immediate interaction, the Social Denim may sound a tad gimmicky, but it’s the first of its kind and could well lead the fashion pack into creating more connected clothing in the future. Available from March 2013, at Bread & Butter.

Levi's Waste<Less

Another mass label pursuing the cause of sustainability is Levi’s. The denim stalwart recently introduced the new Waste<Less denim collection, which incorporates the use of polyethylene terephthalate materials (or PET plastic). Bottles and food trays collected through US recycling programs are sorted by color, crushed into flakes and made into polyester fibers. Then, these fibers are blended with cotton fibers, which are finally woven with traditional cotton yarn to create denim. The Spring 2013 collection (from $99.90—so it’s easy on your plastic too) utilized over 3.5 million recycled bottles, with each product containing about 20 percent post-consumer recycled content.

[FLASHBACK] Nudie Jeans Organic Denim

In 2006, Nudie Jeans made a commitment to have a 100 percent organic denim collection, and the label’s folks have succeeded in reaching that goal for Fall/Winter 2012. “We had to start from scratch, change the way we work, and, together with our suppliers, develop our very own organic fabrics,” explains founder and creative director Maria Erixon Levin. The collection (from $69), exclusively stocked at The Denim Store, includes T-shirts, shirts, outerwear and, of course, dry and washed jeans. If you’re a denim lover, choose its signature drys (from $259) and spend at least six months without washing to break them in. What you get after half a year of abuse is a well-worn pair that speaks of your own adventures and habits—something that even the most sophisticated technology can’t replicate.  

How do you know if a pair of jeans fits well?

Chocolate Mousse

from Chef Nooror Somany Steppe of Blue Elephant

Ingredients
125g dark chocolate
1 egg yolk
1 egg
19g sugar
188g whipped cream
4g honey
Directions
1. Melt the dark chocolate in a bowl set over a saucepan of hot water.
2. Once melted, add the honey, mix well and set aside.
3. Whisk the egg yolk with the egg until foamy. Add the sugar and whisk again then combine with the chocolate mix.
4. Whisk the whipped cream until soft peaks appear, then with the chocolate mix using a wooden spatula. Pour in a cup and put it in a fridge for three hours or until the chocolate gets stiff.
Sathorn Rd., 02-673-9354. www.blueelephant.com

Chocolate Lava Cake

from Peechaya Sukviboon of 103+ Factory

Ingredients
300g chocolate
170g butter
90g cake flour
90g sugar
5 eggs
Directions
1. Beat the eggs with a whisk until they are foamy. Then add sugar and mix together.
2. Melt the butter and chocolate together in a bowl over a saucepan of hot water.
3. Add the chocolate and butter mix to the eggs.
4. Add the flour and combine, then pour it in a tray for baking.
5. Put it in a preheated oven (180 degrees) for 11 minutes.
6. Serve hot with ice cream, whipped cream or fruits.
24/4 Ari Soi 4, 081-495-1555. Open daily 11am-11pm

Chocolate Tart

from Warussaporn Burutratanaphan of Tropical Monkey

Ingredients
85g crushed crackers
35g melted unsalted butter
100g dark chocolate
2 eggs
25g caster sugar
Directions
1. Mix the crushed crackers and melted butter together then press them well in either a cake tin, cake foil or mold to make the base. Chill in the refrigerator until firm.
2. Melt the dark chocolate in a bowl set over a saucepan of gently simmering water. Cool slightly, then add the egg yolks and mix.
3. Whisk the egg whites until they form soft peaks, then add the caster sugar and whisk until stiff.
4. Fold the chocolate into the egg whites and pour over the base. Chill in the refrigerator for 8 hours or overnight.
5. Decorate with whipped cream and a strawberry on top.
2/F, Rainhill, Sukhumvit Soi 47, 081-616-3909 

Chocolate Cake

from Suparadi Siwapornpitak of Radi

Ingredients for the cake
180g cake flour
180g granulated white sugar
40g unsweetened cocoa
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
½ cup vegetable oil
1 cup warm water
1/3 cup milk
1/2 teaspoon vinegar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
345g icing sugar
90g unsweetened cocoa powder
90g butter
½ cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Stir together the flour, sugar, sifted cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
3. Add the oil, water, lemon juice, and vanilla extract. Mix all the ingredients together with a fork.
4. Pour into one 4-inch and one 8-inch round tin. Bake in preheated oven for 15-20 minutes, or until cake springs back when lightly pressed and a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean. Place on wire rack to cool.
5. Get a medium bowl, sift together the icing sugar and cocoa, set aside.
6. In a large bowl, cream butter until smooth, then gradually beat in sugar mixture alternately with evaporated milk. Blend in vanilla. Beat until light and fluffy. If necessary, adjust consistency with more milk or sugar.
7. To place the second tier (4-inch) on top of the first (8-inch), carefully take the cake and use a metal spatula to help guide the cake in the middle. Frost the cakes with the chocolate frosting and decorate with pastel colored sprinkles.
Thonglor Soi 11, 090-971-5666

Xinn Tien Di

Despite being in the fancy Gaysorn, Xinn Tien Di’s prices are far from what you think. The peking duck here comes in really affordable at B590 (with one dish made with the leftover meat). Not only is the duck heavenly delicious, it’s fun to eat. The skin is cooked to perfection. It’s what peking duck should be—no fat attached at all and super crispy, while the sauce is great and flavorful. The service here is fast and pleasant. And since you’re in Gaysorn, you get to rub shoulders with the hi-so families after some post-shopping feast.
3/F, Gaysorn, 999 Ploenchit Rd., 02-656-2114-5. Open daily 11:30am-2:30pm, 6-10pm

Chef Man

Chef Wai Yin Man boasts over his B2 million kiln made especially for peking duck (B1,200) and his Beijing-native cook who serves up the dish. Here, the Chinese cook easily carves the skin off piece by piece, as the duck is cooked to perfection till the skin is crispy and free of fat. Unlike at other places, the peking duck here is served with mangoes, peanut sauce and shredded garlic to liven up the flavor. The highlight, though, is the pancake which is thin, soft and incredibly chewy. But snap to it, as it gets sticky fast. The miang (stir-fried shredded duck meat with garlic served with cabbage) is another nice accompaniment—flavorful and well-cooked. Since Chef Man is hot on social networks, tables for lunchtime aren’t available till April, but take a punt on this Chinese New Year. You’ll need to reserve one day in advance, and do be punctual as the duck will be ready the very minute you booked the table.
3/F, Eastin Grand Sathorn, Sathorn Rd., 02-212-3741. BTS Surasak. Open daily 11:30am-2:30pm; 6-10pm

Shangarila

A big favorite among the Thai-Chinese families, Shangarila has been around for more than 40 years and it must be the food (the décor is not much to look at) that keeps each branch of the place busy. Here, you’ll see almost every table ordering the peking duck. The amber skin is cooked to perfection, glossy and all the fat rendered. And as you’d expect, the atmosphere is typically Chinese, with lots of red, lots of round tables, and lots of loud families and kids.
306 Yaowarat Rd., 02-224-5933. www.shangarilagroup.com. Open daily 10:15am-10:15pm

Scala

For more than 40 years, Scala has been sitting under the Scala Theatre, but look beyond the weird location and you’ll soon realize why this place is most popular for its peking duck (B1,200 with two side dishes). Here, too, the manager waxes lyrical over their kiln, which gives the peking duck that perfectly crispy skin. The sauce is also very tasty, not surprising given that it takes the cooks from early morning to have it ready for the evening—making the stock before adding in the black soy sauce, sweet soy sauce, sugar and some other top-secret ingredients.
184 Siam Square Soi 1, Rama 1 Rd., 02-251-2863. Open daily 11am-2:30pm; 5-10pm

Great Shanghai

If you like your peking duck really crisp, with that nice, cracking sound as you bite into it, this is the spot for you. Not only is the emphasis here on having the crispiest duck (B1,500), but their sauce—whose exact recipe is a closely guarded secret—is favored by many. One of the ingredients that distinguishes their sauce from others is the tao cheow (soy bean paste). The place has been around for more than 40 years and the uncle who owns the place, and hardly speaks any Thai, brought over all the recipes from Hong Kong.
648 Sukhumvit Soi 24, 02-258-7042. BTS Phrom Phong. Open daily 6-10pm