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Published on July 25, 2007

Voted on by 350 jurors aged between six and nine years old, the film beat out six other movies from European countries and the Hollywood animated film "Everyone's Hero".

The film won the majority of votes from the young jury members.

Earlier this year the Thai film won the Palm Dog at the Cannes Film Festival, a special award established by English film critics at the renowned festival. "It's amazing to win this award because it is judged by kids, and they are extraordinary kids as they are real film lovers," director Somkiet Vithuranich said at a press conference yesterday.

The Giffoni Festival has been held in the South of Italy since 1971 and is known as a major event for children's films. More than 2,000 children are selected to sit on the jury every year to watch and judge selected films that are classified to suit their ages. The decisions are made by the children alone with no interference from adults.

This year the festival welcomed star celebrities including actor Danny De Vito and filmmaker Roman Polanski.

Somkiet, who travelled to the festival, said though the juries were rather young, they absorbed the film well and they asked questions just like any adult jury would.

"Ma Mah See Kha Krub" was released in Thailand earlier this year and it soon became a hit, earning Bt58 million in ticket revenue. Despite this, the film only managed to break even because of its high production costs. It took three years for the two directors Somkiat and Pantham Thongsang to finish shooting.

The film will enjoy a special screening on Friday at the Bangkok International Film Festival being held at SF Cinema, Central World. The VCD and DVD versions are scheduled for release in August.

Parinyaporn Pajee

The Nation