Partage, 2023

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The French painter Danhôo has recently donated one of his works, titled Partage (Sharing), to the Bophana Center in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Co-founded by filmmakers Rithy Panh and Pannakar Ieu, this center plays a crucial role in preserving the country’s audiovisual archives. The handover of the painting, received with gratitude, highlights Danhôo’s commitment to memory and cultural heritage.

In addition, the artist is further deepening his involvement by becoming an ambassador for the Fragments #KH50 project. This program, led by the Fragmentis Vitae Asia association, aims to collect and share the testimonies of Cambodian families who lived under the Khmer Rouge regime over the past 50 years.

Through this gesture and commitment, Danhôo puts his art at the service of transmission and dialogue. His involvement provides valuable visibility to this initiative while strengthening the connection between artistic creation and collective memory.

All proceeds from the sale of this artwork will be donated to the Bophana Center to support its cultural mission.

For those interested in this artwork and who wish to support the Bophana Center, please contact us by email at info@bophana.org.

Bophana Center to Celebrate World Day for Audiovisual Heritage on October 27th, 2024

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Phnom Penh, October 25, 2024 – Bophana Audiovisual Resource Center will join the global community in celebrating World Day for Audiovisual Heritage on October 27th, 2024. This important day, designated by UNESCO, aims to raise awareness about the significance of preserving audiovisual materials for future generations. As part of the commemoration, Bophana Center invites individuals, institutions, and the general public across Cambodia to reflect on the value of their own audiovisual collections, which may be stored in homes, offices, or warehouses.

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“MEETING WITH POL POT”, a film by director Rithy Panh, has been chosen to represent Cambodia in the competition for Best International Feature Film at the 2025 Academy Awards.

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“𝗠𝗘𝗘𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗪𝗜𝗧𝗛 𝗣𝗢𝗟 𝗣𝗢𝗧”(original title “Rendez-vous avec Pol Pot”), a film by director​ Rithy Panh, has been chosen to represent Cambodia in the competition for Best International Feature Film at the 97th Academy Awards, to be held on 2 March 2025, Cambodia Oscar® Selection committee announces officially. The Cambodia Film Commission, which promotes Cambodian cinema abroad, said that an independent jury of experts chose Rithy Panh’s film as this year’s entry for Cambodia. Continue reading…

Mekong Discovery Days at the 13th Cambodia International Film Festival

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The “Mekong Discovery Days”, a significant feature of the 13th Cambodia International Film Festival, was held on June 27–28, 2024, with an attendance of about 3,000 participants at the Cambodia-Japan Cooperation Center (CJCC). The event was inaugurated by H.E. Dith Tina, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, emphasizing the critical importance of environmental conservation along the Mekong River, its coastal areas, and regions throughout Cambodia for sustainable development. Continue reading…

13th Cambodia International Film Festival (CIFF) Opening Gala on the evening of June 25, 2024

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On the evening of June 25, 2024, the 13th Cambodia International Film Festival (CIFF) Opening Gala took place at Chaktomuk Hall under the highest presence of Minister of Culture and Fine Arts, Her Excellency Dr. Phoeurng Sackona, and Governor of Central Banking, Her Excellency Dr. Chea Serey, who is an “Honorary Patron” of the 13th CIFF. The evening featured the premiere of the film “Elvis of Cambodia,” directed by Mr. Chris Parkhurst who has brough the first film showcases about the life of iconic Cambodian singer Sin Sisamouth, with members of his family in attendance. Two of his original legacy songs were performed by Ms. Sin Setsochhata, his granddaughter, evoking memories of his unique and imperial voice.

The Bophana Center and CIFF team extend their deep gratitude to the Minister of Culture and Fine Arts, the Governor of Central Banking, ambassadors, representatives from international and national organizations, sponsors, Mr. Sin Sisamouth’s family, actors, actresses, and other guests who attended this memorable event.

This year, the 13th edition of the Cambodia International Film Festival presents 153 films, including 48 Khmer films, both short and feature-length, from 41 countries worldwide. We invite everyone to enjoy these films from June 26 to 30 at various screening venues in Phnom Penh for free.

Meeting of Rei Foundation, Bophana Center, Khmer Communities in Japan, and the Alive Team—a group of Cambodian youth based in Japan

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On May 26, 2024, the Rei Foundation, the Bophana Center, Khmer Communities in Japan, and the Alive Team—a group of Cambodian youth based in Japan—joined forces for the Acts of Memory Project. This project aimed to capture and record dialogues between Khmer Rouge survivors and their descendants, preserving these important narratives for future generations. …

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Mobile Screening “M-13: The Birthplace of the Khmer Rouge’s Brutality” at Udong High School in Kampong Speu Province

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On the afternoon of May 31, 2024, the Bophana Center organized a screening of the documentary film “M-13: The Birthplace of the Khmer Rouge’s Brutality” at Udong High School in Kampong Speu Province, attended by over 200 students. Following the screening, discussions were held with two survivors of the Pol Pot regime, who shared their personal life stories and provided a general overview of prison, living conditions of the prisoners, and the methods of torture used.

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Cultural Exchange Between Indigenous People from Australia and Cambodia

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On April 24, 2024, the Bophana Center felt very honored to co-organize an event with the Australian Embassy under the theme “Preserving Indigenous Identity Through Art and Film” for a dialogue of different members from the Tumpoun, Kreung, Kui and Gamilaraay communities from Cambodia and Australia. This created a unique platform for dialogue, understanding, and cultural exchange. Continue reading…

A Presentation of Bophana Center at FIAF 2024 Symposium: Film Archives in the Global South

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Exciting News from Bophana Center!
We are thrilled to share that Mr. CHEA Sopheap, Director of Bophana Audiovisual Resource Center, recently delivered a captivating presentation highlighting our ongoing efforts in audiovisual archives preservation and accessibility. Moreover, we are proud to continue nurturing the filmmaking talents of Cambodian youth to document their communities.
In addition, Jason Sanders from the BAMPFA team presented on the collaborative work between BAMPFA and Bophana Center at the “FIAF 2024 Symposium: Film Archives in the Global South” held between April 21-26, 2024. This symposium, organized by the International Federation of Film Archives (FIAF) and hosted by the Thai Film Archives in Thailand, provided a platform for meaningful discussions and exchanges.

By sharing our mission and achievements spanning over 17 years, Bophana Center has gained increased awareness within the global film communities. We are grateful to FIAF for this invaluable opportunity. Special thanks also go to the Thai Film Archive for hosting such an amazing program.

We look forward to further collaborations and opportunities to contribute to the preservation and promotion of Cambodia’s rich audiovisual heritage!

The Bophana Center and Rei Foundation Limited are collaborating on the “𝗔𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗠𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗿𝘆” project in Japan

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The Bophana Center and Rei Foundation Limited are collaborating on the “𝗔𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗠𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗿𝘆” project in Japan, aiming to preserve the experiences of individuals who survived the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia and resettled in Japan through intergenerational interviews.

Here are some highlights of the training activities for Cambodian-Japanese trainees on history, oral history, and interview techniques conducted on March 21-22, 2024, marking the beginning of project implementation to ensure accurate information collection.

The project seeks to document and share the personal stories of Khmer Rouge survivors, encouraging both young and elder generations to engage with the past and transmit their messages. It aims to preserve personal histories and deepen understanding of the resettlement challenges faced by survivors. This project will serve as a platform for dialogue, reflection, resilience, and promoting awareness of shared history.