Chulalongkorn CSII Students Shine at Inspiring Asia 2024 MicroFilm Festival 

Chulalongkorn University’s School of Integrated Innovation (CSII) is celebrating a remarkable success at the Inspiring Asia 2024 Microfilm Festival, where a group of its talented students claimed the Next Gen Award for their short film,” Second Chance”. This prestigious accolade—granted to the festival’s most popular student-produced film—recognizes the students’ creativity, commitment, and social awareness. 

Directed by Thanyaporn Juntiwa and produced by the Design for Thailand Team (D4T) under CSII’s Social Innovation Lab, the film earned a $1,000 prize for its powerful storytelling.   

A Story of Hope and Reintegration   

“Second Chance” explores the hurdles ex-prisoners face as they rejoin society, highlighting their potential to become an underutilized force for positive change.  

Drawing inspiration from real experiences at the Restart Academy—a sandbox initiative by the Thailand Institute of Justice (TIJ)—the film focuses on Restart Kitchen, a program offering culinary training and emotional support for reintegration. Through heartfelt narratives, “Second Chance” underscores the value of empathy, understanding, and opportunity in building a supportive community. 

Thanachai Suntharavet (P’Mek), Senior Manager of Social Partnership and Public Engagement at TIJ, comended CSII’s collaboration, praising how innovative storytelling can expand the program’s reach and impact.   

Director’s Reflection   

First-year BAScii student and director, Thanyaporn Juntiwa, expressed her gratitude: 

“It is truly an honor to receive this prestigious award. I’m incredibly proud to share our journey of inspiring hope and giving second chances. My heartfelt thanks go to my amazing team for their dedication—it was a joy to work with all of you.” 

Behind the Scenes: A Team Effort  

The D4T team’s collective passion and diverse skills made “Second Chance” a reality. Several members shared their thoughts: 

• Tanatcha Achcha: “I’m grateful and honored that our hard work was recognized. I’m also very happy for all of us.” 
• Thinn Nadi Soe: “It’s vital to bring attention to this underrepresented community. Despite a tight timeline, we turned a simple storyline into a meaningful film, thanks to the support of Prof. Sam and TIJ.” 
• Hsu Myat Noe Han, Production Designer: “Seeing my sketches come to life was incredible. I felt so proud of the team when we got the news.” 
• Woraphan Pruchyanimit: “Hearing the stories from Restart Kitchen was inspiring. It was a privilege to work with TIJ and my team.” 
• Thakun Saesi, Editor and Cinematographer: “Every moment captured deeply moved me. It reminded me that everyone deserves a second chance if they truly want to make a comeback.” 

Innovation in Action 

Developed through CSII’s Social Innovation Lab, this project demonstrates how BAScii students use creativity and innovation to address real-world challenges. By collaborating with TIJ, they showcased the power of storytelling in driving meaningful social change. 

CSII: Empowering Creativity for Impact  

The success of “Second Chance” embodies CSII’s mission to cultivate talent and foster purposeful storytelling. With experimental learning and interdisciplinary collaboration at its core, the BAScii program equips students to tackle pressing social issues through compelling narratives. 

To know more about the film, visit: Inspiring Asia Micro Film Festival 2024 | Trailer

For more information on the BAScii Program and Social Innovation Lab, visit: https://csii.chula.ac.th/bascii/. 

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