“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…
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…
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.
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. …
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.
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…
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, 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.
In this special edition of our newsletter, we are excited to share the remarkable achievements of our indigenous trainees who have been part of the “The Arts of Visibility and Positive Social Change” project. This initiative is a testament to the power of film in bringing about positive social change and preserving the rich heritage of indigenous communities.
A Day to Remember: Certificate Ceremony
The Bophana Center had the honor of organizing a certificate ceremony on December 26, 2023, to celebrate the accomplishments of our trainees. The event was presided over by H.E. Mr. Duch Chanto, Deputy Governor of Ratanakirri Province, and witnessed by a host of dignitaries, including honored guests from provincial departments, organizations, donors, teachers, students, youth, and the proud parents of our trainees, along with the protagonists of our documentary films.
Empowering Indigenous Voices
Our project, co-implemented with the Cambodia Indigenous Peoples Organization (CIPO) and generously supported by Voice through Oxfam in Cambodia, the Ford Foundation, and the Heinrich Böll Stiftung Cambodia, has been a journey of empowerment and creativity. Over 21 months, starting from April 2022, our 21 trainees have immersed themselves in the world of documentary filmmaking, resulting in the production of 31 films that beautifully capture the essence of indigenous traditions, customs, culture, language, and daily life.
From Learning to Leading
The success stories emerging from this program are inspiring. Several of our indigenous youths, equipped with skills honed at the Bophana Center, are now making their mark in the film and multimedia sectors. Their journey from learners to leaders in these fields is a source of immense pride for us. Others continue their education, pursuing their passion as independent filmmakers, contributing their unique voices and perspectives to the broader narrative.
Mobile Cinema: A Journey Beyond Borders
The Mobile Cinema Program, a cornerstone of our initiative, has played a crucial role in bringing these documentaries to a wider audience. This program is not just about screenings; it’s about creating a space for dialogue, understanding, and appreciation of the rich cultural tapestry of indigenous communities. It’s about bridging gaps and building connections through the powerful medium of film.
Looking Forward
As we celebrate these achievements, we also look to the future with excitement. The journey of our trainees and the impact of the Mobile Cinema Program are just the beginning. We are committed to continuing our work in using film as a catalyst for social change, cultural preservation, and community engagement.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to our partners, donors, and supporters. Your belief in our vision and mission has been the driving force behind our success.
Stay connected for updates on our upcoming Mobile Cinema screenings and other projects.
Cambodia & Culture: Bophana Center, the history of the Royal Ballet and the life of H.R.H. Buppha Devi soon accessible to the public
The Bophana Center received this week a donation of several dozen archival video tapes containing, among other things, a series on the Royal Cambodian Ballet and the life of the late Princess Buppha Devi.
Christophe Gargiulo and Chea Sopheap, director of Bophana Center
In addition to the 11 episodes of 26 minutes each previously broadcast on local channels CTN and CNC some 15 years ago, the original rushes of interviews with the princess, her dancers and her entourage were also donated to the center. In addition, there are a few ‘forgotten’ documentaries such as the opening of the first night market in Siem Reap, the Kep marathon in 2007, the first Angkor shows, the first Phnom Penh photo festival and many others that will certainly delight archive and history lovers.
In all, several dozen hours of documentaries and rushes on the country will be processed by the center and will be broadcast or will be part of other projects of Bophana.
‘We are delighted with this gesture, especially for the films about the princess, I was able to view some of the sequences when the tapes were transferred to digital and some of them are quite beautiful,’ said Chea Sopheap, the center’s director.
The director who gave us these films, Christophe Gargiulo, also gave us free access to his photo library on the Royal Ballet and it is likely that we will exhibit some of them during the next Cambodia International Film Festival.
‘At the beginning, Bophana was already broadcasting some of my films and I am really happy today to be able to contribute to their approach of safeguarding the audio-visual heritage. We will try to offer a 26-minute condensed series on the Ballet and the Princess for the next film festival. For the complete series, I would like to have it in English and French one day because it is currently in Khmer language’, says Mr. Gargiulo, best known today for the magazine Cambodia Mag but who previously had a career as a producer and director and whose several series have been broadcast on various channels of France Televisions and, via the MediaCorp network, in Japan, Singapore and South Korea.
About us
Co-founded by Cambodian director Rithy Panh, the Bophana Center collects audio-visual documents about Cambodia and offers the public a free access to the digital data constituting this unique heritage. The quality and diversity of the database attract a wide and varied audience of teachers, students, researchers, tourists, NGOs and journalists. These archives are also promoted through conferences, debates, exhibitions and training workshops organized by the Center. Bophana also trains young Cambodians in film, audio-visual and new media, inspiring meaningful productions about their own culture. As a place of exchange and interaction, Bophana also supports creation in all its forms by hosting artists: we create the archives of tomorrow.
