Organizer: New York Southeast Asia Network

Type/Location: In Person / New York, NY

Description:

Join the New York Southeast Asia Network and Engage Thailand for a screening of two short documentary films by Jirapreeya Saeboo and Navinthiti Jarupratai exploring struggles over university governance, heritage, public space, and freedom of expression in Thailand. The film screenings are followed by a discussion with both filmmakers.

• Jirapreeya Saeboo: A documentary about the ongoing struggle to preserve the Chao Mae Thapthim Shrine in Bangkok amid Chulalongkorn University's redevelopment projects. The film examines university governance, urban redevelopment, heritage preservation, workers' rights, and students' and communities' freedom to challenge institutional power.

• Navinthiti Jarupratai: A documentary about the campaign to preserve a historic dormitory at Chiang Mai University, which has unfortunately already been demolished. The film explores student participation, university governance, freedom of expression, and the preservation of collective memory.

Together, these films raise a common question: What responsibilities do universities have to the communities, histories, and voices within and around them?

About the Speakers:

Jirapreeya Saeboo is the manager and editor of Sam Yan Press and Executive Director of Morning Glory Collective. Her work combines grassroots organizing, data-driven advocacy, and public petitions to support workers experiencing wage theft and labor exploitation. She is also a documentary filmmaker whose work explores university governance, urban struggles, and social justice.

Navinthiti Jarupratai is a medical student at Chiang Mai University, an activist, and a Sam Yan Global Fellow. He directed a documentary about the campaign to preserve a university dormitory at Chiang Mai University, which has since been demolished. His work focuses on student participation, university governance, freedom of expression, and preserving shared spaces and collective memory.

Registration:

To attend the event in person, please register here.