February 11, 2026
Agence Française de Développement and ARPAA – Bophana Audiovisual Resource Center Launch a Major National Project to Strengthen Audiovisual Memory Preservation and Youth Empowerment in Cambodia
Phnom Penh, 06 February 2026
The Association pour la Recherche, la Production et l’Archivage de Documents Audiovisuels (ARPAA) – Bophana Audiovisual Resource Center, with principal financial support from the Agence Française de Développement, and co-funding from Rei Foundation Limited, the Henry Luce Foundation, and Myriad U.S.A., is pleased to announce the launch of the three-year project “Enhancing the Preservation of Audiovisual Memory and Youth Empowerment.”
Implemented in collaboration with Youth for Peace, Cambodian Living Arts, HelpAge Cambodia, the Cambodian Film Commission, and the Department of Media and Communication of the Royal University of Phnom Penh, the project aims to reinforce Cambodia’s audiovisual heritage ecosystem while empowering young people as cultural actors, storytellers, and custodians of memory.
Safeguarding Cambodia’s Audiovisual Memory
Cambodia’s audiovisual archives including films, photographs, sound recordings, oral histories, and documentary materials are essential resources for understanding the country’s history, cultural identity, and social transformations. Many of these materials remain fragile and at risk due to aging formats, climate conditions, and limited preservation infrastructure.
Through this project, ARPAA – Bophana Audiovisual Resource Center will strengthen its technical and institutional capacity to preserve, digitize, and manage audiovisual collections in line with international standards, while expanding public access to these archives for researchers, artists, educators, students, and the wider public. This effort affirms audiovisual heritage as a shared public good and ensures its transmission to future generations.
“Audiovisual archives are not only records of the past; they are foundations for education, creativity, and critical reflection in the present,” said Chea Sopheap, Executive Director of ARPAA – Bophana Audiovisual Resource Center. “The support of the Agence Française de Développement, together with the commitment of our co-funding partners, enables us to safeguard this heritage and make it accessible to all.”
Placing Youth at the Heart of Memory and Creation
A central pillar of the project is youth empowerment. ARPAA – Bophana Audiovisual Resource Center and its partners will support young people, particularly those from rural areas, indigenous communities, and underrepresented backgrounds through training in documentary filmmaking, multimedia production, and digital archiving.
By combining technical skills with critical engagement around history, culture, and social issues, the project enables young participants to document lived experiences, reflect on collective memory, and contribute actively to Cambodia’s cultural life. Youth-produced works will be shared through public screenings, exhibitions, mobile cinema programs, and community dialogues across the country.
“The project led by the Bophana Center addresses the need to preserve Cambodia’s cultural heritage while ensuring its continued vitality through the engagement of its youth.” said Laurent Raspaud, Deputy Director of the Agence Française de Développement.
Outreach, Access, and Intergenerational Dialogue
Beyond preservation and training, the project places strong emphasis on public outreach and inclusive access. Through provincial screenings, mobile cinema initiatives, and intergenerational activities developed with partner organizations, the project creates spaces for dialogue between youth, elders, and communities. These encounters encourage reflection on history, identity, and shared values, strengthening connections across generations and regions.
A Collaborative Framework for Sustainable Impact
By bringing together expertise in archival preservation, arts education, youth engagement, community work, and the film sector, the project establishes a collaborative framework designed for long-term impact. The combined support of the Agence Française de Développement and co-funding partners such as Rei Foundation Limited, the Henry Luce Foundation, and Myriad U.S.A. reinforces institutional cooperation, expands access to cultural resources, and supports the emergence of a new generation of cultural professionals committed to memory, creativity, and public engagement.
About ARPAA – Bophana Audiovisual Resource Center
Founded by filmmaker Rithy Panh and Ieu Pannakar, ARPAA – Bophana Audiovisual Resource Center is Cambodia’s leading institution dedicated to collecting, preserving, digitizing, and sharing the nation’s audiovisual heritage. The Center provides free public access to archives and implements training, exhibitions, screenings, and outreach programs that connect memory, education, and creative expression.
About the Agence Française de Développement
The Agence Française de Développement is France’s public development institution. It supports projects that contribute to inclusive and sustainable development by strengthening education, culture, social cohesion, and local capacities in partner countries.
Media Contacts
ARPAA – Bophana Audiovisual Resource Center
Communications Unit
#64 Street 200, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Email: communication@bophana.org | Tel: +855 92 9025 43
Website: www.bophana.org
Agence Française de Développement – Cambodia
Email: mercierl@afd.fr
Website: www.afd.fr
