Short film contest opens up students to life's truths

Other primary schoolchildren from Chiang Mai’s Fang district also pocketed the top award with a story that said unity came from one’s acceptance of different opinions and the ability to forgive.
The short film competition, now in its eighth year, was organised by Office of the Basic Education Commission (Obec) under the 64th Students' Arts and Crafts Exhibition in February.
The competition, divided into the high school level and the primary school level, was this year attended by 48 five-member teams nationwide (12 from primary level and 36 high school level). Each team – under the supervision of two teachers – had three months to prepare a short movie. It could be up to seven minutes long and match a given theme of “unity is a constructive strength for society”.
Ban Muang Pittayakhom School team leader Sarocha Pimpa said the award-winning Pon Ruam short film was inspired by how soccer could create teamwork among players.
The story was about a boy named Sin who at first won’t |let his friends share and play with his football. One day his |ball gets stuck on the roof of the school building - so Sin’s friends climb on top of each other to retrieve it. A grateful |Sin lets them play with him from then on.
Sarocha thanked the workshop on short filmmaking for helping them learn how to create a story from something close to home and to produce the film professionally.
Chiang Mai’s Ban Luang School, the primary level winner, presented the short film titled Lek-Yai (Small Big), about a small boy and a tall boy who like to compete with each other. One day, they rip pages from their homework books to make paper rockets and vie for who can send the most rockets onto the roof of the school building. Caught by a teacher, they are told to clear all the paper rockets from the roof. The two boys are unable to reach some of the papers, but their classmates come to their aid and help out.
Ban Luang School crewmember Apisit Kiatthanapaiboon said he hoped this short film would inspire people to unite and accept others’ opinions. “We can start with family first, then we can later aim to be good members of society,” the boy added.
Famous short film director Patana Jirawong – who was among the competition judges and also a trainer during the previous workshop for qualified students from four regions – agreed that students’ short films had improved in past years in terms of production and ideas.
Many student teams were able to interpret a given theme into interesting contents that were useful and promoted good virtues among viewers.
Patana said that such activities should be encouraged and young people should be allowed to creatively express themselves through more short films in the future.