Shanghai: The Thai film '9 Temples to Heaven' won two awards at the 28th Shanghai International Film Festival.

According to Thai News Agency, the film secured accolades in the Asian New Talent section, claiming both Best Director and Best Actor awards at the prestigious Golden Goblet Awards ceremony. Held at the Shanghai Grand Theatre in eastern China, the event celebrated cinematic talents from across Asia on June 20.

Directed by Sompoj Chitkesornpong, '9 Temples to Heaven' is his inaugural feature-length film. The narrative centers around Sakol, a 63-year-old man, who arranges a family expedition to visit nine temples in one day in hopes of prolonging his mother's life. As three generations travel together, hidden family conflicts and emotions surface. The film captures authentic experiences through group storytelling and strategically uses long takes to explore the complexities of familial relationships.

Mr. Sompop Songkampol, who was awarded Best Leading Actor, expressed his excitement and surprise, especially since this was his debut acting role. He mentioned feeling a familial warmth with the film crew during production. Both Mr. Somphot and Mr. Sompop shared that their initial reactions upon winning were to inform their families, resonating with the film's familial theme.

The awards ceremony was followed by a fan meet-and-greet event, where Mr. Somphot expressed his joy over winning the Best Director award. He hoped this recognition would inspire confidence in future projects for him and his team.

Films from Southeast Asia, including '9 Temples to Heaven', received significant attention at this year's festival. The Royal Thai Consulate-General in Shanghai hosted an event titled "Discover Creative Thais Through Films" to spotlight Thai cinema. Concurrently, the Indonesian film "My Own Last Supper" competed in the main category, and the animation "Garuda: Dare To Dream" was featured in the animation section, highlighting the creative prowess of the Southeast Asian film industry.