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Congratulations to the Film Program students from the School of Digital Media and Cinematic Arts who won 2 awards from the Pitching Session Young Producer 2025 project, held at the National Art Gallery, Ministry of Culture, organized by the Thai Film Directors Association.

          The Pitching Session Young Producer 2025 is a highly significant project for the Thai film industry, with the main objective of providing funding and opportunities for young producers to create quality films. Through a rigorous selection process from over one hundred submitted works, only 20 quality projects were selected to enter the training camp and capacity development program.

First Runner-Up Award - Team Roiraw Prize: 30,000 Baht

Member

1. Mr.Koraphat Cheeradit 
2. Miss Kitsana Phosritong 

Project: "Raeng Sansatuan" (Tremors)

The work presents an emotionally deep story of a young woman who faces the inexplicable loss of her boyfriend following a major earthquake. The psychological trauma forces her to struggle with pain and loss, until one day her life encounters another man who gradually heals the deep-seated wounds and slowly mends the cracks left in her heart, like the cracks in the earth that are gradually filled with time and hope. This work reflects healing and new beginnings through a clever comparison between natural disasters and psychological wounds.

Honorable Mention Award - Team I Lost My Passport Prize: 15,000 Baht

Member

1. Mr.Naphat  Khunlam 
2. Mr.Napat  Prapantaewa

Project: "I Lost My Passport"

The work "I Lost My Passport" is a documentary-fiction hybrid film that tells the story of a man who travels abroad for an exchange program. What seems like an ordinary problem becomes a turning point that forces him to face life's big questions. Between deciding whether to stay abroad or fly back to Thailand, amid hidden thoughts of wanting to relocate for political reasons, while simultaneously having ties with loved ones waiting for him in Thailand. This work reflects internal conflict, choosing between ideals and love, and the meaning of "home."

Valuable Training Camp Experience: Learning from Leading Experts

Ping, a member of Team Roiraw, shared their first-day experience: "The first day's activities were truly eye-opening. I listened to lectures from experienced experts who provided knowledge about creating proposals for funding applications, finding funding sources both in Thailand and abroad. Simply put, once we finish making a film, where will our work have the opportunity to be screened? Which film festivals are suitable, or what platforms should we reach?"

Ping continued, "Besides funding knowledge, what we gained was the opportunity to examine our project through the eyes of outsiders who are industry experts. They pointed out shortcomings, areas for improvement, or even strengths we might have overlooked. It's like testing the project before actually doing it, letting us know what should be developed and making us more confident that our project has potential."

Khao Pan, a member of Team I Lost My Passport, added about Day 2 activities: "The second day focused on deeply understanding the roles and duties of producers and line producers. Both positions are extremely important in film production, and crucially, both should understand each other as much as possible because they must work closely together throughout the production process. What was especially valuable was receiving insights from renowned film directors like P'Moo, P'Toei, and P'Kai, who shared their real-world experiences as directors and line producers."

Ping added: "In the world of filmmaking, there's no fixed formula like mathematics. Even famous directors or those renowned nationally and internationally, they still want to develop themselves constantly. They continue to learn and experiment with new things all the time. It makes us feel that being a filmmaker is a journey that never ends."

The Art of Pitching: An Indispensable Skill

One crucial skill both teams gained from participating in the project is the art of pitching, which both teams emphasized as essential for filmmakers in the current era: "The art of pitching is another important discipline, no less than directing or screenwriting. Pitching for filmmakers isn't just presenting information, but conveying the story and feelings of the film so others can perceive and experience it within a limited time. It's about pulling out the strongest hook of the story to win over the audience, whether investors, selection committees, or viewers." 

"Good cinema should give audiences many things. It shouldn't limit itself with any framework or formula. It should open space for audiences to interpret, think, feel, and receive different experiences. That is the beauty and true power of cinema." 

Alternative Cinema Perspective: Balancing Art and Business

When asked about their definition of "film," both teams unanimously answered: "Film is a blend of art and business, and neither side should dominate. Both aspects must be balanced." Both teams revealed their deep passion for alternative or independent films, defining this genre as: "Alternative cinema doesn't focus primarily on business or profit, but emphasizes what's most important: the message to be conveyed to the audience, including storytelling styles that may differ from the mainstream."

"In the current era, we can't deny that most films tend to follow mainstream trends, what the market demands, proven formulas that sell well. There's nothing wrong with that, but on the other hand, we also want to explore the boundaries of cinema with more diversity than what we see now. We want to know if cinema can give audiences more. Can it question, challenge thinking, or create new perspectives for viewers?" they explained.

"The power of cinema should be able to transmit and create impact on viewers. Not just making them sit and watch with joy, laughter, or tears in the theater for 2 hours and that's it. But when they leave the theater, the story and messages within should gradually work in their hearts, gradually change perspectives, make them think and reflect on things in life. That's the true power of cinema we believe it should be."

Watching Films is an Experience, Not Just Entertainment

Both teams shared an interesting perspective on film viewing: "There are many films in this world that we might like or dislike, but what we want everyone to try to see is: consider watching each film as an experience rather than just judging whether it's good or bad, liked or disliked. Because each person receives what the film sends differently, depending on life experiences, context, and emotions at that particular moment."

Recommended Films Close to Their Hearts

Team Roiraw recommends: "Sathaew Prahlad" (Monster, 2004) - "We want everyone to try watching this Thai film. It's a film with a clever two-sided narrative technique. From the beginning, it gradually tells the story, taking us into it, making us feel like part of the characters, trying to have viewers find answers along with the twists through challenging storytelling techniques. It's a film that shows us how far Thai cinema can go and has the courage to experiment with new things."

Team I Lost My Passport recommends: "Satantango" (1994) - "This is a film over 7 hours long that reflects the discomfort, despair, and difficult lives of villagers in a small Hungarian village. The story unfolds very slowly, making viewers feel the discomfort, suffering, and emptiness of life, just as the villagers in the story are experiencing."