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BRITISH DIRECTED FILM ‘P’ SCOOPS AUDIENCE AWARD AT ERLANGEN -First Western directed Thai language movie excites movie-goers, festival selectors-

(LONDON, UK, April 19th, 2005) – P, a startlingly moving film about the powerful force of magic in Thai culture, broke new ground from its beginning. As the first Western-directed Thai language movie ever made, P has been wowing international audiences, winning the Audience Best Film Award and Silver jury Award at the recent Erlangen Weekend of Fear in Germany and receiving acclaim from a growing fan base.

Written and directed by Paul Spurrier (Director of the critically acclaimed Underground, 1998), P is fast gaining ground as a hit on the film festival circuit. In addition to its strong showings at Erlangen and the Fantasporto festival in Portugal, P is to show at PIFAN in Korea, the Brussels International Festival of Fantasy Film and the prestigious New York Asian Film Festival. The Erlangen Weekend of Fear has a well-deserved reputation for discovering the cream of new films, having premiered works such as ‘Braindead,’ directed by Lord of the Rings trilogy mastermind Peter Jackson. Aside from breaking new ground among Western directors, P is notable for its well-researched portrayal of Thai beliefs and for its stunning cinematography.

“The Audience Best Film Award is especially exciting, since it is voted by a real audience of seasoned film fans. P is gaining momentum through word-of-mouth on the festival circuit, and we are considering distribution options in several markets,” commented Spurrier. “I aimed from the start to work with a predominantly Thai cast and crew. While this presented some challenges, my faith in their skills paid off, resulting in some truly outstanding work from in many cases relatively inexperienced, unknown actors. The awards pay tribute to the hard work and dedication of a lot of people.”

P tells the story of Dau, (Suangporn Jaturaphut in her first starring role), a young Thai girl growing up in a remote forest region with her ailing grandmother. As is typical in the remote North-East of Thailand, magic plays a big part in Dau’s education. However, as Dau’s grandmother grows weaker, Dau is forced to head to Bangkok to earn money for medicine and food. With no skills or contacts in the city, Dau soon becomes a part of the night scene, landing a job in a go-go bar. She soon starts to make use of her magical skills - to attract men, to remove obstacles, and to wreak vengeance on those who stand in her way. But in her carelessness, she misuses her powers, breaking the three sacred rules of witchcraft. A monster is born in Dau, and chaos ensues as she tries to escape both those she has crossed and the enemy within.

Further information about P is available at www.phii.co.uk.