A Sound of Success — BUDC Lecturer Wins the Crystal Pine Award 2026
This achievement reflects the exceptional caliber of a faculty member who possesses not only academic expertise, but is also a "true practicing professional" — creating works that have earned international recognition. Congratulations to Ajarn Kankawee Nilthajan, Instructor Digital Media Department specializing in Sound Production and Music for Digital Media, School of Digital Media and Cinematic Arts, on receiving the Crystal Pine Award 2026 in the category of Best Trailer Music for the musical score of the animation trailer "Peace Delivery: Song Su Khit", produced by Art Combo Studio, at the 14th International Sound and Film Music Festival (ISFMF) 2026 held in Varaždin, Croatia.
Sound and the Importance of Storytelling
"Creating music and sound design must begin with a deep understanding of the story — especially for works with a strong Thai cultural identity, such as 'Peace Delivery: Song Su Khit', which draws on themes of belief, spirits, and the supernatural. The goal is to design sound and music that authentically reaches the audience's emotions and powerfully reflects the identity of the story."
Taking on Peace Delivery: Song Su Khit
"I was invited by Khun New — Wanchalerm Chutrakul, CEO and Director of Art Combo Studio — to oversee all aspects of sound and music for the production. In the early stages, I had to get to know the main character, 'Marvin,' who possesses a special sixth sense — hearing the calls of spirits and ghosts, and tasked with releasing them from this world. The music reflects Thai identity, mystery, fun, and fear, while complementing the fantasy scenes of the spirit realm. The animation trailer runs approximately two minutes, so it needed to convey the emotions of the characters and various scenes with clarity — from a chilling coffin shop scene, to a chase sequence across all regions of Thailand (North, Central, Northeast, and South), to a spectacular depiction of the afterlife — covering the full emotional spectrum. The compositional techniques are not vastly different from other types of work, but the music must clearly convey the emotions of 'Marvin' as a character and leave the audience wanting to see more, hear more, and follow the animation."
Making a Name on the International Stage
"Previously, I composed the music for the game trailer 'BlueLine', which was nominated for the Crystal Pine Award 2025 at the 13th International Sound and Film Music Festival in Croatia in the Best Trailer Music category. I also scored the animation 'Alpha Boy: Kumarn Alpha', another collaboration with Art Combo Studio, which reached the Semi-Finals and was screened at the Verona International Short Film Festival in Italy. As for 'Peace Delivery: Song Su Khit', which received support from the Ministry of Culture, alumni from the Department of Digital Media, Faculty of Digital Media and Cinematic Arts, also contributed to its production. Winning the Crystal Pine Award 2026 this time was incredibly exciting — it marks the second occasion I have been nominated in the same category. When my name was announced, I was deeply moved. This award serves as a powerful source of motivation to continue creating quality work."
Perspectives on Success
"Awards serve as encouragement and shift your perspective — making you love what you do even more. But the most important thing is being able to fill the world of imagination with sound and music, and playing a part in conveying the value of a work to its audience. I hope everyone pursues what they love with dedication. Don't give up — don't stop creating — because opportunities arise when we are ready and when we never stop developing ourselves by doing what we love, consistently."
Bringing Experience into the Classroom
"In my role as a lecturer, I bring real-world professional experience into the classroom so that students can learn from actual situations and build upon their skills in a creative way. For students interested in sound and music, I encourage you to try a wide variety of work, gather experience, and discover what you are truly passionate about with genuine commitment. Never stop developing yourself — so that you can create opportunities to produce great work in the future."
Watch Peace Delivery
