God bless, My Child

Ding ! What does "God bless you" really mean? ขอพระเจ้าอวยพระนะลูก แปลว่าอะไร

God bless, My Child is a Thai coming-of-age short drama that follows Mali, a teenage Thai immigrant daughter whose mother's secret conversion from Buddhism to Christianity leaves her searching for what still remains between them.

The film explores a mother - daughter relationship through themes of migration and cultural identity. It is set within the everyday lives of Thai restaurant workers in Wellington, and offers an intimate glimpse into the experience of living between two cultures.

We intend to use crowdfunding to help bring God Bless, My Child to life by covering essential production costs, including location hire, production design, transport, crew catering, and talent fees. To follow our journey and stay updated throughout production, follow us on Instagram @godblessmychild_shortfilm2026. (ขอบคุณค่ะ)

My name is Kanokphan Hirankhet (Norah), also known as น้ำหนึ่ง, and I am the director and writer of God Bless, My Child. Together with our project leads, we are a team of third-year Screen Arts students at Massey University. We are proud to be creating the first Thai short film produced within the Screen Arts programme.

Although this is a Thai story, it has been shaped through a wonderful collaboration between Thai and non-Thai filmmakers. The crew has enthusiastically embraced the opportunity to learn from one another while working across these two cultures. We are committed and excited to bring this deeply personal story to life.  

Written and directed by Kanokphan Hirankhet (Norah)

Produced by Natalie Fletcher

Cinematography by Kobe De Ridder

1st AD by Ayaan Lakhani

Sound Recordist by Connor Gourley

Art directed by Karohamea Huck

Lighting by Brooklyn Hill 

Edited by Erielle Sevilla

Filmmaking isn’t cheap! By supporting us, you are helping us:

• Pay our talented actors
• Pay for our locations
• Transport our gear
• Feed our cast and crew

Ding ! A message from Norah (น้ำหนึ่ง) – Writer & Director

“God Bless, My Child is inspired by a deeply personal part of my life. Very little has been changed from the emotions and experiences that shaped the story, and Mali is written as an extension of my own alter ego.

I grew up in a small town in northeastern Thailand in a close-knit Buddhist family. When my mother moved to New Zealand for work many years ago, she quietly converted to Christianity, changing not only her beliefs but also, in many ways, the way we understood one another.

After moving to New Zealand myself, I slowly began to experience the life that she had built here and the parts of her story she had never shared. What once felt like emotional distance gradually became understanding. Although it's a deeply personal story, I believe this story speaks to something universal, and I hope this film resonates with anyone who has ever felt caught between cultures, generations, or different ways of seeing the world."

God Bless, My Child is an invitation to experience a story that is rarely spoken about within families. It does not seek to resolve these tensions or offer simple answers. Instead, the film creates space for empathy and quiet understanding. By bringing an authentic Thai and New Zealand experience to the screen, we hope this film allows audiences to feel authentically, and encourage people that our relationships should not be defined by differences in beliefs or religion.