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CAMBOFEST, Cambodia International Film Festival 4th Edition Post Festival Report

2013-04-27T19:35:00.000-07:00

(this is a simple cut and paste of the complete report which appears with photos at http://www.scribd.com/doc/75520840/CamboFest-Cambodia-Film-Festival-4th-Edition-Post-Festival-Report; a downloadable version can be obtained at http://www.amazon.com/CamboFest-Cambodia-Festival-Report-ebook/dp/B006LD3CKK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1324088218&sr=8-1 )

CamboFest, Cambodia Film Festival 4.0 (4^th Edition)

Post Festival Report

INTRODUCTION

CamboFest, Cambodia Film Festival (www.cambofest.com) is an international film festival in Cambodia established in 2550/2007 by Camerado (SE Asia).

CamboFest is Cambodia's first internationally recognized recurring film festival, and is one of the only recurring international movie events in Cambodia since the end of the Khmer Rouge regime.

The event is funded through a variety of private and public sector sources, with fundraising utilizing a range of approaches, including: grass-roots fundraising, crowdsourcing, institutional level grant applications, and various forms of internal revenue generation.

CamboFest showcases international and local film and video makers in order to help revive a bona fide cinema industry and movie culture in Cambodia, while attempting to maintain an intrinsically entertaining event and media platform that is capable of attracting local and international audiences.

The festival also serves to promote awareness of IP (Intellectual Property) practices in the Cambodian media and motion picture sector by securing public performance permissions for every movie screened from copyright holders. Permissions specify the Cambodian territory, and not any 3^rd party sub distributor or territory as a ‘grey area’ workaround, for all screening purposes. The goal is to establish Cambodia as a viable and recognized exhibition location internationally.

This level of industry standard diligence, which is normal in developed nations, but unusual in Cambodia, has in the past elicited some backlash from some Cambodia-based businesses founded upon the organized, unlicensed exhibition of movie content as a core component of their operations.

Unlike other film festival efforts in Cambodia, CamboFest is an independent, largely non-subsidized event and operates apart from any local or international government or non-governmental agency. The event is therefore largely free from donor agendas or interests, hence its independent or ‘indie’ sensibility.

The festival is designed primarily for entertainment and edutainment (E-E) purposes, with a significant amount of educational, prosocial and development oriented content programmed alongside entertainment-oriented international and local movies.

Besides a range of social issue and educational videos, participating films at CamboFest typically include: animation, drama, action, sci-fi, horror, creative documentaries, a local Cambodian and Southeast Asian showcase, amongst other genres.

Programming of CamboFest is eclectic and is designed to develop a local filmmaking sensibility that may reasonably have high likelihood of evolving into sustainable (non-subsidized) Cambodian film industry in the long term, with key genres established to be more commercially saleable than others.

By way of example: Western/European art-house style cinema, though valid forms in their home countries, do not observably engage popular local audiences in a significant way in the Cambodian context and are therefore not (currently) featured as prominently as some genre oriented titles.

In any case, to date, over 250 international filmmakers have participated in CamboFest.

BACKGROUND

In its first two years, from 2007 through 2008, CamboFest was held at various art spaces and open air venues in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, Cambodia. A dedicated, 'Youtube'-style online video portal was also utilized for the 2007 and 2008 editions as a supplemental online component.

This portal, called CamboTube, featured its own dedicated FFMPEG conversion engines on its own servers, unlike other online channels that utilize Youtube or other dependent video sharing devices as a host.

This online component was abandoned later, however, due to bandwidth and user access (Digital Divide) limitations although some important design elements from CamboTube have been incorporated into a design for a new

prosocial auto-replicating hardware platform in development by Camerado SE Asia, called PILGRIM.

CamboFest’s 3^rd Edition

The historically significant third (2009) edition of CamboFest took place in the vintage Cambodian 'Royal' cinema hall, in Kampot, Cambodia, a venue which had been unused since 1989.

Only a handful of older local Cambodians remembered of the 'Royal', which had lain unused since 1989 when it was shut to public screenings as the sustainability of the business became non-viable. This was in large part, according to the then and current owner, due to the growing affordability of the VCR in post conflict Cambodia which allowed for private viewing of titles in the perceived safety and comfort of home.

Approvals for the 3^rd edition of CamboFest were provided through the authority of the Kampot Governor’s office, bypassing the need to receive centralized Phnom Penh Ministry approval, so long as the event were held in the jurisdiction of Kampot province.

Even so, with this component of Cambodia’s decentralization and deconcentration reform working well on paper, there was some actual reluctance from the relevant Cambodian government Ministry to relinquish its authority to the provincial level. The approvals were finally gained, with all relevant stamped paperwork available in an archived state.

Additional challenges emerged when foreigners residing in Cambodia, including those affiliated with at least one non-diligent (aka, “pirate”) cinema venue in Phnom Penh, reacted negatively to CamboFest’s pro-filmmaker activities in the lead up to its 3^rd edition at the ‘Royal’.

The foreign non-Cambodians subsequently attempted to thwart the 3^rd edition festival, Cambodia’s only film festival at the time, with a series of hoax classified ads placed in the local press, and through phony press releases sent locally and abroad*. (*for coverage of these incidents, see http://cameradomoviesandmedia.blogspot.com/2010/01/cambofest-story-part-1.html)

Despite the interference by foreign elements and the reluctance of the Cambodian centralized government to allow decentralized provincial level approvals, the 3^rd (2009) historically significant 'Royal' edition of CamboFest was held as planned, from December 4–6, 2009.

A number of international filmmakers and others found the production challenges experienced by the event to be notable, insofar as they highlighted some of the obstacles that a pioneering cinema effort like CamboFest may face:

"His Majesty the King-Father asked me to thank you on His behalf. He read with great interest your report about your activities in reviving the cinema industry in Cambodia."

- Cabinet assistant of H.M. The King-Father Norodom Sihanouk of Cambodia

Lead up to the 4^th EDITION

Following the challenges experienced in the Cambodian media environment during the process of producing the event’s 3^rd edition, the festival director made a decision to invite the participation of a Cambodian youth group for the planned 4^th edition, in order to better ensure for the long term viability of the festival.

This decision was based on an estimation at the time, that the Cambodian media sector could still require 10-20 years to evolve to a point where (like neighboring Thailand) film festival events and related forms of public media expression could be produced with a normal, reliable, bankable, streamlined process typical of developed media environments.

Furthermore, it was estimated that the IP media sector in Cambodia may require a similar period of time to develop to a point where backlash or interference from local businesses and persons involved in organized unlicensed exploitation of motion picture titles would be minimized or absent.

In short, it was assumed that a youth group would have the time to ‘grow into’ a normal film culture. Problematic variables in the media sector and Cambodian government processes would (hopefully) pass away over the years, and the CamboFest film festival could serve as a point of departure or training ground for interested future festival staff and media professionals.

Additionally, CamboFest’s director (Jason Rosette) a Caucasian foreign filmmaker and media producer (though living in Cambodia fulltime, by choice, as an unsubsidized freelancer for over half a decade), considered the reality and perception of himself as a ‘colonial white face’ atop a Cambodian-based collective to be unappealing and inconsistent with core founding notions of CamboFest as a multicultural, pluralistic, local effort.

The participation of a local youth group, in this case the Kampot based Youth Association for Human Resource Development (YAHRD), was deemed to be a crucial step to the long term viability of the CamboFest effort, in whatever form it would assume in the future.

YAHRD youth group members hand out flyers before the start of CamboFest 4 screenings

The Fourth Edition of CAMBOFEST: March 1-9, 2011

Pre-production of CamboFest’s 4^th edition took place concurrently to the production of another regional film festival, also established by CamboFest’s founder, the Bangkok IndieFest (www.bangkokfest.com) in neighboring Thailand*. (*for a comparison both festivals relevant to their respective environments, http://cambofest.blogspot.com/2011/12/brief-comparison-of-cambofest-cambodia.html)

In order to optimize the timing and synergy of both events, the 4^th edition of CamboFest was shifted back several months from its annual recurrent timeline in order to exploit any publicity components generated during the Bangkok IndieFest.

Therefore, the 4^th edition of the CamboFest, Cambodia Film Festival was slated to take place in March 2011, some 15 months after the previous edition of December 2009, ‘rebooting’ towards a newly devised recurring schedule.

Cold Feet

Fundraising for the 4^th edition of the CamboFest carried on as per previous editions, with vigorous outreach commencing to both individual and institutional level supporters through direct outreach, mailing lists, crowdfunding, and other means.

However, following the challenges from foreign interference experienced at the previous, 3^rd edition of CamboFest, institutional and foundational level sponsors had ‘cold feet’, and were observably reluctant to support the 4^th edition of the festival - even with taxpayer funds at their disposal specifically earmarked for use in challenged developing environments like Cambodia.

For example, one local embassy which had supported CamboFest in previous editions, uncharacteristically balked at offering any support for the 4^th edition. Furthermore, the embassy would not allow the loan of either of its two large venue projectors (as it had at the previous edition) for the youth group’s training.

Additionally, a degree of misinformation presented by foreign residents in Cambodia, including the representative of one foreign government-funded media organization, the Cambodia Film Commission (see below), caused some potential contributors to question CamboFest’s legitimacy in the eyes of the Cambodian government, further affecting the availability of funding.

Therefore, one recommendation would be for potential future funders to seek only an authorized, Cambodian government representative’s statement regarding any effort’s ability and authorization to operate in the Cambodian environment. Ideally, this confirmation should come from the highest Ministry level or above.

In any case, despite the reluctance of institutional supporters during the CamboFest’s 4^th edition’s fundraising efforts, a host of worldwide individual contributors stepped in to fill the gap instead.

These individual supporters were instrumental to the 4^th edition’s production and success.

A Phnom Penh based photographer, James Mizurski, for example provided funds for the purchase of a 3D enabled projector to be provided to the Cambodian YAHRD youth group for use during the event and their ongoing, year-round practice.

Germany-based contributor Rolando Dubioso, a longtime contributor to

Camerado projects, made one of several significant gifts for operational funding.

Additional contributions were made by a variety of worldwide film and media professionals, many who had never been to Cambodia, but who supported the mission and approach of the CamboFest effort. (A list of all contributors here :http://cameradosocialissue.blogspot.com/2010/11/make-contribution-to-cambofest-cambodia.html

Remaining core funds for the 4^th edition of CamboFest would be derived from residual international filmmaker entry fees, with the shortfall being covered by volunteerism on all sides, a portion of funds provided out of pocket by the festival director himself, and a further reduction in costs achieved by replacing the traditional CamboFest ‘Grabay Meas’ trophy with a less costly awards certificate until revenue allowed its return.

Additional in-kind supporters stepped forward: the Cambodia Daily newspaper, under the generous contribution of founder and publisher Bernard Krishner, contributed pro-bono advertising to the CamboFest 4^th edition on a scale which would not have been affordable on the effort’s grass-roots budget.

Technicolor (www.technicolor.com) in Bangkok provided an in-kind facilities package to participating Cambodian CamboFest filmmakers, showing a significant level of international support to its ASEAN neighbor.

Finally, local foreign and Cambodian fans in Kampot promised their support in the form of food, accommodation and other sustenance for the festival staff, as they had in the 3^rd edition.

In summary: thanks to individual worldwide contributors, the 4^th edition of CamboFest took place as planned.

The dates of the 4^th edition of CamboFest were set a year in advance, with dates set to run from March 1-9, 2011. The festival would again take place in Kampot, Cambodia, following the invitation of the Kampot governor’s office following the conclusion of the 3^rd edition.

The festival was slated again to take place at the ‘Royal’ cinema house, as per the 3^rd edition, with the understanding that workflows with the local, decentralized approvals process would be streamlined since the previous event.

Additionally, the dates for the 4^th edition of CamboFest were chosen with International Women’s Day (March 8) in mind to form an armature for appropriately themed films to take place throughout the festival, with the 8^th being a highlight day for films by women filmmakers.

For the 4^th edition, the festival run was extended from 3 days to 9 days, with a repeat of programs as needed, in order to provide a more difficult target for possible interference of the kind sustained during the 3^rd edition; whether or not this would occur again was unknown. The extra days would allow more recovery time from any misinformation placed in the local press while providing a contingency for any last minute, unexpected interventions from the Cambodian government.

Ultimately, no notable interference from foreigners residing in Cambodia occurred during the lead up to the 4^th edition of CamboFest.

However, last minute methodological challenges occurred in the Cambodian government’s permissions process, in an arbitrary departure from the previously established decentralized approvals process.

The Cambodian government ministry in charge of film festival cultural events, the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts (MOCFA) intervened five days prior to the event with a request to inspect and review all content to be presented at CamboFest, overriding the Kampot governor’s authority to approve the event independently.

This occurred despite the fact that a copy of all 50+ films had already long been provided to the Kampot governor’s office for review and observation on DVD.

Calls from CamboFest staff, the YAHRD youth group, and the CamboFest director to Som Sokum, Cambodia's Secretary of State in Charge of Cinema in the Culture and Fine Arts Ministry, had no effect on restoring the process to the previously implemented decentralized system.

The Secretary – who had on May 19, 2010 signed a Film Cooperation agreement with the French CNC (Centre National de la Cinématographie) – stated he was unable to agree to the Kampot governor’s authorization to approve the event in the normal decentralized fashion, as had been done in the previous edition.

This new requirement by the MOCFA required an additional last minute visit by CamboFest staff and petitions to the department of Cinema representative in Phnom Penh.

After some time in last minute discussion, a Cambodian government representative at the Department of Cinema indicated that he would not impede CamboFest’s 4^th edition event if it did not collect revenue, as it was designated primarily for the training of the benefit and training of the YAHRD Youth Group in Kampot in any case.

Following the meeting with the representative of the Department of Cinema in Phnom Penh, the organizers of CamboFest returned to Kampot and continued to train and tech the YAHRD youth group in time for the 4^th edition of the festival.

Since revenues could now no longer be collected if the festival were to proceed, the event could now no longer afford to rent the vintage ‘Royal’ movie hall: that venue had to be abandoned in favor of an immediate, pro-bono substitute.

With only one day to locate a replacement venue, CamboFest staff and members of the YAHRD youth group scoured Kampot on foot for a workable festival location that would enable the youth group to undertake its film festival training.

Responding to the needs of the event, the Cambodian owned and operated Little Garden Guesthouse in Kampot was the first to offer its outdoor open air restaurant and lounge as a replacement screening venue.

An unanticipated benefit to this change was that its open air structure on the street level near the Kampot riverside allowed for more ambient and unplanned foot traffic than might otherwise be gained.

For example, after the CamboFest was underway, a number of disabled and wheelchair bound audience members were able to view films simply by rolling up to the curb and watching with everyone else – something that would not be possible with a less accessible venue.

One Cambodian former soldier and mine victim happened upon an evening screening of a landmine awareness documentary at the event, and was greatly moved by what he saw and experienced, stating that he learned (through the film) that there were others like him, and that resources & organizations existed to assist him.

With regard to ‘cultural and moral’ aspects of the filmed content, requiring approval and observation by the Cambodian government, CamboFest staffers referred to local Cambodian sensibilities by pre-screening movies to youth group members and others to eliminate any potential problems with content during public exhibition at the festival event.

CamboFest's fourth edition therefore, took place largely as planned, on March 2-6, 2011. As mentioned, dates were publicly listed as March 1-9; the extra days were designed as ‘padding’ to render any potential targeted pranks and last minute Cambodian government variances less problematic for the event.

This had fortuitously been the case, since one festival day had been rescheduled due to the last minute intervention by the MOCFA.

Youth group members and CamboFest’s founder J Rosette with guests at the 4^th edition

Achievements and Accomplishments at

CamboFest’s 4^th Edition

After all the earlier challenges, there was minimal interference with the CamboFest event from any source after it was actually up and running.

The YAHRD youth group quickly learned to set up and operate all screening equipment, and by the final day were autonomously running the entire event: greeting guests, setting up hardware, changing discs, announcing the program, distributing flyers, and more.

Despite the unique 4^th edition challenges, the significant local participation and training of the Cambodian youth group - a crucial link to the formation of a local film culture in Cambodia – took place as planned.

“Cambofest was a first experience for our youth. It showed them many sides of movie shows not just projecting. Because experience was hands-on, it gave them many skills. How to talk to customers, setup screen, and use DVD player and speakers. It also challenge them to think quickly. They tell me they have confidence now because of Cambofest. Since Cambofest, I see this is true. We look forward to staying involved in Cambofest.”---Keut Mattrohet, Youth Group Representative & Cambofest volunteer

“I like Cambofest and want it to come back. I only work one night because I busy, but learn about movies and how to set up machine. Movies show me about the world and many different people. I like that. My favourite movies about Khmer Rouge and landmine. I want Cambofest to come back so I talk to film people and learn about making movies.”---El Son, Youth Group member & volunteer

“I enjoy Cambofest. Never before I have chance to be so brave. Cambofest make me brave talking to customers, selling T-shirts. I learn about equipment and now can setup and show movie show. Cambofest make me interested in movies and how they are made. I want to know more about movies like acting, writing, scenery and camera. I like movies about Cambodia and Khmer people best. Cambofest very good for youth group and Kampot.”---Saffiy Man, Youth Group member & Cambofest volunteer

The youth group, many of whom had never even operated AV gear before, set up and operated all equipment, changed screeners, greeted and informed guests, conducted outreach and publicity, and by the final day were essentially running the entire CamboFest 4^th edition event.

The festival, along with the youth group training effort, was undertaken without any donor or agency mandate, and without any institutional donor support beyond individual contributions, and with a bare minimum amount of funding.

CamboFest’s director would encourage funders and donors operating in the Cambodian environment to reflect upon, and adjust if necessary, their funding priorities and workflows as needed to support worthwhile efforts like CamboFest in atypical markets in the future.

In another notable development, long-time CamboFest staffer and co-organizer, Cambodian national Phun Sokunthearith, was invited to participate in the prestigious DW-Akademie film festival training program at the 2011 Berlinale (Berlin Film Festival) in Germany.

Rith (aka ‘Mr. Tol’) returned to Cambodia after a month in Berlin, only a few days before the commencement of CamboFest’s 4^th edition. He brought with him new skills and capabilities specifically designed for organizing film festival programs, thanks to that organization’s generous assistance and mentorship.

Notable screenings at the 4^th edition of CamboFest included, along with fifty other new local and international films: the long-awaited official Cambodian premiere of Robert Flaherty's pioneering documentary, 'Nanook of the North', with historic live Khmer narration, translated and read to an eager audience by the youth group.

The pioneering documentary finally enjoyed its official premiere in Cambodia, 88 years after its initial release, with the permission of the Robert Flaherty Film Seminars, Inc, who monitored and supported the production of the event closely despite its challenges.

‘Nanook of the North’ enjoys its belated official Cambodian premiere at the 4^th edition of CamboFest – 88 years after its release (Courtesy Flaherty Film Seminars., Inc.)

‘

Regrettably, due to the unexpected intervention from the Cambodian MOCFA, the owner of Kampot’s ‘Royal’ theater had not been able to enjoy any of the rental revenue he had been counting on and sorely needed to fix his truck.

The CamboFest director, after the conclusion of the event, therefore went to retrieve an unofficial payment made earlier to a staff member at the Kampot governor’s office. This staff member had earlier promised to accelerate the decentralized permissions process, and had assured approval from the local Culture ministry in Kampot, a promise that was not kept.

Following a brief discussion, and in an exceptionally rare display of the refund of unofficial fees, the governor’s staff member returned the sum to the CamboFest director.

In turn, a coffee making kit was then purchased with the recovered corruption money and was given to the owner of the ‘Royal’ cinema and his family as a microbusiness mechanism.

It was hoped that the loss of rental revenue would be offset over the course of time by this microbusiness, with the family selling cups of coffee and tea to curious guests who continued to stop by the ‘Royal’ throughout the year.

To this day, visitors coming to the vintage ‘Royal’ movie hall in Kampot can currently spend some time in the old Cambodian cinema house, while enjoying a cup of coffee or tea for only $1/4000Riel*. (*guests should be able to ask for the coffee or tea in Khmer language)

Post-Festival Environment

After the conclusion of the 4^th edition of CamboFest, it became apparent that there are still fundamental challenges to producing a non-aligned, independent film festival event in the current Cambodian context.

Although independent film festivals are the norm around the world, foreign state funded efforts in the Cambodian environment are dominant and continue to impact the viability of non-aligned media events which do not enjoy an equal level of subsidy.

By way of example, there are many independent film festivals in neighboring Thailand, including the Camerado-produced Bangkok IndieFest, which did not experience any of the resistances in the media environment that had been encountered with the production of CamboFest. (*for a comparison, see http://cambofest.blogspot.com/2011/12/brief-comparison-of-cambofest-cambodia.html)

Moreover, a degree of market distortion resulting from the dominance of ‘free’* foreign government subsidized cultural events in Cambodia, along with observable local government restrictions on ticket sales, makes it

a challenge to recoup event production costs at the door as per normal developed environments. (*free locally, but paid for by taxpayers in respective home countries)

A decision was therefore made by the director of CamboFest, after the conclusion of the 4^th edition of the event, to disengage from an annual/one year festival cycle which is typical of mature and fully industrialized media markets. This decision would be sustained until the media ecosystem in Cambodia normalized to a reasonably developed level, and without impediments imposed through market distortions resulting from heavily subsidized, foreign-aligned programs.

The festival will continue on an event-by-event basis as demand, support, resources, interest, and creative will allows.

However, popular demand based on numerous sign-ups on the CamboFest mailing list, that a 5^th festival edition would be welcomed, and a 5^th edition of the festival is planned.

Funders, sponsors, filmmakers, volunteers and others kindly contact info@cambofest.com with inquiries.

Continued Challenges:

“the shadow is darkest beneath the lamp”

Some challenges continued after the conclusion of the 4^th edition of the CamboFest festival, however, as elements of non-constructive misinformation continued to propagate in the local Cambodian media environment.

One notable instance of misinformation emerged, disappointingly, from a foreign-funded media organization established ostensibly to help revive a local cinema culture in Cambodia: the Cambodia Film Commission.

In August, 2011, some months after the conclusion of the 4^th edition of CamboFest, a foreign employee working with the Cambodian Film Commission emailed the CamboFest director with some apparently significant news:

from Cedric ELOY - CFC cedric.eloy@cambodia-cfc.org

to Jason Rosette / CAMERADO

date Thu, Aug 18, 2011 at 12:22 PM

subject Re: Correction ~ Fw: about CamboFest

Important mainly because of your interaction with messages in the conversation.

hide details Aug 18

Hi Jason,

Thank you for the info.

We had a meeting with the Ministry of Culture when they told us that CAMBOFEST was no longer authorized to operate in Cambodia.

Did you get any formal information regarding this ?...

The representative provided no further information or clarification, despite several followup emails from the CamboFest director. Some response would have been arguably appropriate, given that the representative, Mr. Cedric Eloy, occupied a visible position at a significant Cambodia-based cinema organization dedicated to the “the revival of Cambodian cinema culture” in Cambodia (UniFrance Films Website).

Whether Mr. Eloy’s involvement in the forthcoming 2^nd edition of the Cambodia International Film Festival (an effort which CamboFest applauds as part of a pluralistic Cambodian civil society in any case) was a factor in his spontaneous outreach can only be surmised.

The Cambodia Film Commission is an organization established with funding by Film France in cooperation with the French development organization, AFD (Groupe Agence Française de Développement), and “dedicated to the revival of Cambodian cinema culture”.

Inexplicably, the foreign CFC representative was unwilling or unable to clarify his statement which, if true, would adversely impact the ability of a Cambodian youth group to remain involved with a notable Cambodia-based film effort (CamboFest) as a vital training ground for the future “revival of Cambodian cinema culture” in Cambodia.

On August 24^th, addressing the earlier statement made by the foreign CFC representative, the Director of the Cambodian Department of Cinema and Diffusion in Phnom Penh provided the following clarification to the CamboFest director and co-organizer:

Date: Wed, 24 Aug 2011 07:09:21 -0700 [08/24/2011 09:09:21 AM

From: Chansaya Sin

To: info@cambofest.com

Subject: Fw: CamboFest

Show this HTML in a new window?

----- Forwarded Message -----

From: Chansaya Sin

To: The CamboFest Team

Sent:

Subject: Re: CamboFest

Dear Jason,

The Cinema and Cultural Diffusion Department will support you and want you to involve in the next CamboFest film festival.

I want to meet you as soon as possible. Recently,We are preparing to International Film Festival at beginning December 2011.

Best Regards,

Sin Chan Saya

Director of

Department of Cinema and Cultural Diffusion

Mobile: (855) 12 864 769

The earlier, non-authorized statement by the foreign civil servant at the Cambodia Film Commission had been directly contradicted by an authorized Cambodian government staff member.

It was probable, nonetheless, that some individuals in the local Cambodian operational and funding environment had mistaken the foreign CFC representative’s (non) authority to make determinations on the part of the Cambodian government, and had subsequently declined consideration of CamboFest as a legitimate effort worthy of funding or support.

As a case in point, one notable local Phnom Penh movie exhibition venue, which had already provided CamboFest with a written letter of intent to offer venue support for the next CamboFest edition, abruptly ended contact with the CamboFest director around the time of the foreign CFC employee’s statement.

CamboFest had again sustained interference by foreigners in its effort to positively impact the Cambodian civil society - in this case, regrettably, by the employee of a foreign media development agency.

Therefore, to re-emphasize the position of the Cambodian government regarding CamboFest, the Director of the Department of Cinema and Cultural Diffusion clearly and definitively contradicts the earlier statement made by the foreign civil servant working at the CFC:

“The Cinema and Cultural Diffusion Department will support you and want you to involve in the next CamboFest film festival.”

Mr. Eloy’s problematic communication was particularly disappointing, given that the founder of CamboFest had consulted the CFC’s co-founding body Film France, free of charge, in 2008 during research and development for the nascent Cambodia Film Commission before that organization’s founding.

At the time, in support of the Cambodian Film Commission’s agency’s aims and mission, CamboFest’s founder had produced a pro bono video featuring

a discussion with Film France’s Franck Priot (See the video on Youtube @ www.youtube.com/watch?v=dUKBdBNTxj0)

Interested persons, now and into the future, are therefore encouraged only to contact an authorized Cambodian government representative with questions regarding the legitimacy of any media or cultural undertaking or project taking place in the Cambodian environment.

In any case, two months later, during a late October meeting between Mr. Sin Chan Saya and the CamboFest director, Mr. Sin Chan Saya stated that Mr. Eloy ‘would be leaving’ the Cambodian Film Commission.

He further stated that he was aware of additional consternation and signs of disharmony, expressed by other media practitioners in Cambodia and beyond, which had been caused by the foreign civil servant’s behavior. He did not elaborate further.

CamboFest encourages all media practitioners and development staff working in Cambodia to adopt a contemporary, pluralistic, and inclusive approach to cultural and media efforts in the modern, independent Cambodian context.

CamboFest furthermore suggests that all foreigners in Cambodia, whether involved in the development sector or private sector, cease any destructive expressions of territorialism or rivalry that may cause damage to the stated common cause of assisting Cambodia’s development.

The Next Stage and Beyond

With the Cambodian government representative’s statement of support of CamboFest, in late 2011 the festival commenced an international traveling component. This marks the first time that a Cambodian film festival will travel internationally.

CamboFest would be making its first stop in New York City on December 6, 2011, with selections from CamboFest and its regional affiliate, Bangkok IndieFest, screening in that town of 8 million souls.

Cambodian, Thai, Laotian, and other international films from the CamboFest 4^th edition are slated to screen on December 6, 2011, at the renowned Anthology Film Archives, an international center for the preservation, study,

and exhibition of film and video founded in 1969 by Jonas Mekas, Jerome Hill, P. Adams Sitney, Peter Kubelka, and Stan Brakhage.

(Further host venues around the world TBA as they are confirmed on an ongoing basis; interested venues can contact info@cambofest.com)

Meanwhile, in Cambodia, the YAHRD youth group has undertaken several screening events of their own since the conclusion of CamboFest’s 4^th edition, using AV equipment provided by CamboFest’s individual contributors during fundraising efforts in 2010/2011.

Youth group representatives stated in late November 2011 that they intend to continue undertaking their own movie shows, as they had started doing following the conclusion of the 4^th CamboFest event.

Following the 4^th edition of CamboFest, the YAHRD Youth group undertakes its own autonomous screenings using gear on loan from CamboFest and contributed by individual worldwide supporters

Most recently, the group leader stated that H.E. Khieu Kanharith, Cambodian Minister of Information, had personally applauded their efforts and had encouraged them to continue to further promoting Khmer cinema as best they can.

SUMMARY

This report should serve as one example of the types of challenges that may occur in any country that is seeking to develop its civil society through any number of foreign agencies and guests.

Local governments are advised to observe their own development situations, and in the case of observable disharmony or non-constructive rivalry or territorialism, intervene in order to educate and guide practitioners, actors, and institutions in a more suitable and constructive way.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Based on experiences producing the CamboFest 4^th edition and related efforts in Cambodia, CamboFest makes the following recommendations in order to reasonably and effectively continue to develop a media and film industry in Cambodia.

For Non-Cambodian Agencies, Persons, and Governments Operating in Cambodia:

Kindly recognize Cambodia’s sovereignty as an independent nation, and accordingly defer in all cases to the Cambodian government’s authority to determine and approve media and cultural related efforts.

Interested 3^rd party persons, practitioners, investors, funders, audience members, filmmakers, and others should only seek out an official Cambodian government position regarding the validity and legitimacy of any media events or efforts in the Cambodian territory, versus than relying on local hearsay or other non-authorized perspectives.

Foreign guests in Cambodia: kindly refrain from obstructing or otherwise interfering with any legitimate project or effort, of any scale or funding level, which has been approved by the Cambodian government.

For the Cambodian Government and Relevant Authorities:

Maintain reasonable oversight over foreign guests to ensure that behaviors are not detrimental to the overall development of the civil society. Current trends in Cambodia point to an increasingly distorted patron-client relationship, with some foreign elements exhibiting excessively autonomous, unmoderated, and counterproductive influence.

Educate foreign residents, guests, business owners, and representatives of development and political organizations, regarding the limitations of their authority to speak on behalf of relevant Cambodian government agencies.

Encourage independent, fully Cambodian staffed and funded efforts and organizations in order to build local confidence and capability over the long term, while offsetting the influence and reliance upon foreign elements.

CAMBOFEST, Cambodia Film Festival (www.cambofest.com) looks forward to its 5^th edition, and welcomes contributors, sponsors, partners, filmmakers, fans, and supporters.

Get the latest updates by subscribing to the CamboFest mailing list

http://eepurl.com/d5L

NOTES

CamboFest co-organizers, colleagues and staff include:

Phun Sokunthearith, Co-organizer (DW-Akademie alumnus)

Mr. Jason “Camerado” Rosette, Founder/Co-organizer

The YAHRD Youth Group (http://yahrd.wordpress.com/)

Mr. Suong Sambath, Logistics and Operations

...and others as the event continues to grow and evolve.

Decentralization in Cambodia

UNCDF Report: http://www.uncdf.org/english/local_development/uploads/thematic/adb/UNCDF_Cambodia.pdf

UN Report http://unpan1.un.org/intradoc/groups/public/documents/un/unpan020699.pdf

Film Commissions

Association of Film Commissions International: http://www.afci.org/production-resources/value-commission

An example of a successful and active US based film commission is the New Mexico Film Office: http://www.nmfilm.com/

Operating with limited funds, the Film Office maintains an objective, non-involved position in the local industry. The organization provides information and referrals to resources to all local vendors and staff, without bias or favoritism.

CamboFest’s 3^rd Edition

Photo and video coverage & a look behind the scenes at the challenges and successes of the 3^rd Edition of CamboFest:

http://cambofest.blogspot.com/2009/12/initial-pix-content-from-cambofest-2009.html

(Downloadable Kindle version of this report available shortly on Amazon Digital – check back soon for download links HERE)

Observations on Pirate Movie Exhibition in Phnom Penh, Cambodia

2012-04-01T00:57:00.004-07:00

Currently, foreign-run pirate movie venues in Cambodia are thriving now more than ever, and they continue to rip off filmmakers and studios while negatively impacting Cambodia's reputation in the international media trade.

Just consider: when an international filmmaker discovers their film has been screened in Cambodia without their knowledge or permission - Cambodia suffers.

It becomes 'the Cambodians' who ripped off the film...not the actual foreign venue owner who made the decision to screen the movie, sourced the bogus title, and makes a living off concession sales and admission fees, with nary a penny going to the producer of the film.

Over the past several years since the original writing of The CamboFest Story, pirate venue owners in Phnom Penh have become savvier, more clever.

Now that the issues of public performance rights and copyright for films has been well-raised (through incidents like those seen in that strange but true tale) these venue owners now attempt to disguise their core pirate operations under the guise or of some kind of an ostensible community orientation or service.

With astonishing gall, and total disrespect to the reputation of their host country, some of these proprietors actually make efforts to depict themselves as 'crusaders against piracy'...while simultaneously loading the next illegally downloaded video file or DVD into their projectors.

They may even use the term 'community center' or 'cultural center' in their venue descriptions; the following phrase therefore comes to mind:

"the shadow is darkest under the lamp"

Another technique on skillful display by unscrupulous foreign cinema venue owners in Phnom Penh is to create a careful 'blend' of movie titles on their calendars, intermingling some legitimate titles (those with permissions) alongside films that are outright ripped off - without even the courtesy of a single email to the filmmaker to request permission, as expressed by the following international filmmaker who learned this the hard way about his film, 'DOWNTOWN 81':

Thank you so much

I could consider it but I need your help in finding the contact and name for that movie down the road as thats illigal . I am the producer and I can assure you that its a bootleg. We have 35 mm and dvd but I am a bit tired to waste my times chasing illigal viewing! Please go see the film and try to get me name and contact, I appreciate that you are going through regular channel!

When confronted by an upset filmmaker, the seemingly altruistic, but ultimately disengenous explanation may be offered: the movies are intended to educate the Cambodian people after 30 years of hardship and civil war* - with the foreign pirate shamelessly exploiting the troubled legacy of the Cambodian people as a way to justify fattening themselves and filling their pockets.

For example: 2010 Cannes award winner Apichatpong Weerasethakul was disappointed to learn that his title, 'UNCLE BOONMEE WHO CAN RECALL HIS PAST LIVES' had been slated to screen in Phnom Penh at a popular foreign run cinema venue with a long history of non-diligence.

The filmmaker emailed the venue proprietor; the venue operator's response was as follows:

"We are not charging entrance fees, as we believe that - in order to help to develop the young Cambodian film scene after 30 yrs of turmoil - it is important to screen arthouse films and documentaries especially from neighbouring countries. In the case of Thailand we also hope that it helps to improve understanding inbetween Cambodia and Thailand, given the recent (political) problems and the urgent need for reconciliation."

This venue now charges a $2 'donation' for film screenings, by the way. Notably absent in the non-diligent venue proprietor's response is any mention of profits made from drink, concession, or restaurant sales, or the significant foreign - and affluent, by Cambodian standards - demographic in attendance at such screenings.

Finally, it's arguable if not likely that, contrary to the stated intention of venue owner, the illicit exploitation of another regional filmmaker's work is more likely to aggravate, rather than enhance, any form of reconciliation between the two neighboring countries.

Mr. Weerasethakul commented on this particular Phnom Penh venue in this email to his distributor, which was also cc'd to the founder of the CamboFest film festival:

"On many occasions, it has screened the films without directors' knowledge and consent. Even though it is a free screening, it allows the venue to advertise itself, to seek funds, and to facilitate the notion that copyright is a non-issue in the region. I found a rationalization that UNCLE BOOMEE is available on a pirate DVD for 2 USD -- sad. It doesn't justify another abuse of the film.

Warmest Regards,

Apichatpong Weerasethakul"

It's hoped that the filmmaker's perspective should in any case take precedence over any claim (or excuse) of venue owner: the filmmaker and their distribution partners have a RIGHT to determine the use of their work.

Unscrupulous venue owners may attempt to deflect any questions about accepting hard cash in exchange for exhibiting their pirated titles to the public; terms like 'donation' are used instead of "admission fee" or "ticket". Or the following explanation is offered: all revenue "goes towards projection costs", or "air conditioning", or some other seemingly innocent expense - as if allocating the money towards this area of an illicit enterprise is acceptable, versus another.

Another interesting trait of these venue owners can be observed, particularly when they are questioned or approached by anyone who shares a pro-filmmaker point of view: the unscrupulous pirate venue owners are suddenly the 'victims' - not the filmmakers whose titles are being ripped off.

"Oh it's so hard out here, there aren't any real cinemas"

"Hmmm. Is anyone forcing you to live in Cambodia?"

"No."

"So it's your choice?"

"But we can't afford to license the movies"

"Well, did you even ask - maybe the filmmakers would cut you a deal?"

"Well, no - but we don't have the time to deal with them all!"

"Then maybe your current business model isn't viable, or you have to adjust it, if the only way you can function is to steal from filmmakers to make it happen"

...etc.

All at the expense of Cambodia's reputation in the regional and international media trade...

But what do these foreigners care? It's just Cambodia. Use the country to rip people off, til you can't any more. Who cares about the impact on the local movie industry or the country's reputation internationally?

Ultimately, it's the next generation of Cambodians, particularly the film and media makers, who need to step up to the plate to educate these foreigner pirate venue owners who are utilizing lax governance in their country to abuse copyright, rip off filmmakers, and foul Cambodia's reputation in the international media trade.

Along these lines, Camerado applauds the efforts of emerging Cambodian filmmaker and youth groups like 4K, who launched the recent FilmCamp effort in Cambodia, or the YAHRD youth group who took part in the 4th edition of CamboFest, Cambodia Film Festival (www.cambofest.com).

In light of the continuing unscrupulous behavior of some cinema venue owners in Cambodia, CamboFest therefore offers the following challenge to ALL cinema venue owners, foreigner or Khmer, with small or large enterprises, as a way of developing international standards in the movie industry in Cambodia:

The CAMBOFEST CHALLENGE

Since 2007, CamboFest has always publicly presented a list of distributor or filmmaker contacts as part of any program that was being screened. Even with studio level titles, there has never been a single objection from the filmmaker or distributor to make these contacts publicly available.

We would typically hang them on a wall in a display area, poster style, for public review:

Page from movie guide of 2008 edition of CamboFest: includes filmmakers contacts which allow fans to ask questions about their movies, while simultaneously allowing confirmation of CamboFest's right to screen

Organized* cinema venue owners in Cambodia who are interested in showing their support for the development of the film industry here should also make a list of authentic contacts for the filmmakers and distributors of the movies screening at their venue available for the public to see in a visible, accessible area of their establishment.

(*organized = publicly advertising specific film titles on specific dates in a coordinated way with the intention of drawing an audience to a venue, such as a listing on a calendar, flyer, newspaper, or website, with or without monetary cover charge or admission / * not organized = movies being shown in some form, but no particular movie being advertised in a public way on a particular date to draw an audience...i.e., a pub announcing a 'movie night' with no specifically advertised list of titles, casual film groups, guesthouse screenings, etc.)

For example, for each day's or week's program, a list of authentic (not fake, generic, or otherwise bogus) email and /or phone contacts of the filmmaker or studio can be displayed in the lobby or foyer.

The extra effort, taking only a few minutes, greatly adds value to any legitimate venue operating in Cambodia's piracy-challenged environment, by showing they are diligent about getting rights to screen films, which means they are working to enhance international standards in Cambodia. This also allows emerging local filmmakers to undertake a constructive dialogue with the filmmaker and rights holder, leading to their further education.

Potential moviegoers take note of any venue owner in Cambodia who resists this simple, free way of showing support for the developing Cambodian film industry. Educate these proprietors by insisting that they present a list of their filmmaker and studio contacts for public review - an effective way to validate the legitimacy of any venue in the current Cambodian exhibition environment.

Since 2007, out of 250 separate rights holders and filmmakers, CamboFest has never encountered a single instance where a rights holder or filmmaker refused to allow their contacts to be made available. (and they are usually thrilled to do so, understanding the need to support the development of the film industry in Cambodia)

Most film festivals around the world list their filmmaker, studio, and sales contacts, as well in a publicly available screening guide.

This simple, painless transparency mechanism – introduced to Cambodia and utilized by CamboFest, Cambodia Film Festival (www.cambofest.com) since 2007 - takes very little extra effort by venue owners and should be welcomed by any movie venue proprietor who is authentically seeking to develop the Cambodian film industry and media sector:

CINEMA VENUE OWNERS & OPERATORS IN CAMBODIA:

TAKE THE CAMBOFEST CHALLENGE!

Do what CamboFest has always done as a way of strengthening international standards in the Cambodian movie industry: show off your venue's support for the filmmakers and studios worldwide by making a list of rights-holder contacts for each movie available for public review!

A FEW REACTIONS OF FILMMAKERS WHO HAVE LEARNED THEIR MOVIE IS BEING SCREENED IN CAMBODIA WITHOUT THEIR PERMISSION OR KNOWLEDGE

Re: Screening of UNCLE BOONMEE

2 messages

Apichatpong Weerasethakul

Tue, Jun 7, 2011 at 11:11 AM

To: Thania Dimitrakopoulou

Cc: Kick the Machine Office

Dear Thania,

This is a problem with [foreign run VENUE in Cambodia]. On many occasions, it has screened the films without directors' knowledge and consent. Even though it is a free screening, it allows the venue to advertise itself, to seek funds, and to facilitate the notion that copyright is a non-issue in the region. I found a rationalization that UNCLE BOOMEE is available on a pirate DVD for 2 USD -- sad. It doesn't justify another abuse of the film.

Warmest Regards,

Apichatpong Weerasethakul

=================================================================

Thank you so much for contacting us. Although it's pretty exciting to hear we're being shown in Cambodia, I'm afraid they're doing it without our permission!

Judy Plapinger

Communications and Events Coordinator

hotcoffeethemovie@gmail.com

Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter

Order a DVD

Add us to your Netflix Queue

Host a DVD House Party

================================================================

From: maripol [mailto:xx@maripol.com]

Sent: Friday, March 16, 2012 8:47 PM

To: CAMBOFEST, Cambodia Film Festival

Subject: Re: Hello NY Beat Films re: Downtown 81 in SE Asia

Thank you so much

A Brief Comparison of CamboFest, Cambodia Film Festival and Bangkok IndieFest (Thailand)

2011-12-11T00:05:00.000-08:00

In the intervening period between the 3^rd and 4^th editions of CamboFest, Cambodia Film Festival (from 2009 to 2011) the CamboFest festival director established an independent film festival in neighboring Bangkok, the Bangkok IndieFest.

The production of an independent film festival event in Thailand with a similar style and approach as CamboFest, but in the more developed Thai environment, offers some useful and interesting observations and comparisons:

During production of the CamboFest, a highly variable and arbitrary degree of intervention occurred on the part of the Cambodian government, with specific requests to observe and approve media. In the Thai context, with regards to the Bangkok IndieFest, no engagement with the Thai government was openly required.

The only explicit requirement in the Thai context, articulated through unofficial channels (in this case, through Bangkok IndieFest Thai production staff and a U.S. embassy sponsor in Bangkok) was the absolute necessity to observe respect with regard to the King and Royal family – i.e., no media content could be presented that would diminish or negatively portray the King or Royal family.

The 3^rd edition of the CamboFest event sustained significant interference by foreigners (expatriates) whose core business operations were based on the organized exploitation of motion picture IP through unlicensed (“pirate”) cinema exhibition.

No such interference occurred in the Thai context, insofar that exploitation of motion picture IP by foreigners, with the level of organization and persistence present in the Cambodian environment, does not observably exist. At the time of the launch of Bangkok IndieFest, here were no foreigner-operated non-diligent venues in Bangkok (or Thai-operated ones either) which might be a source of any pro-filmmaker backlash in the Thai environment.

Organized promotion and exploitation of motion picture titles in Thailand occur in legal, licensed venues, such as SF Cinemas, the Major complexes, or RCA House Cinema, with licensing of titles actually specifying Thailand as a designated territory in deal memos (versus 3^rd party, non-Cambodia territory ‘’grey area” usages of big screen Hollywood films which is present in today’s Cambodian context)

In general, the relationship of foreigners to each sovereign state (Cambodia and Thailand) are different due to their greatly varied historical and cultural backgrounds; it is arguable that the Thai view of foreign expatriates has been influenced by the lack of a historical colonial presence, versus its neighbors, including Cambodia, in former Indochina.

The role of foreigners in either society is beyond the scope of this report but it’s observable that tolerances and freedoms granted to foreigners in either society are markedly different.

On a practical level, it’s much easier for a foreigner to secure a long term visa to stay in Cambodia, versus securing a long term visa to stay in Thailand.

CamboFest/Bangkok IndieFest founder Jason Rosette simultaneously maintained one-year multi entry visas for both Cambodia and Thailand in order to produce both festival events in their different stages of production (simultaneously), during the overlapping period following the conclusion of the 3^rd edition of CamboFest, needing to travel back and forth with great frequency to manage both events in their various states of production.

The Thai visa required sponsorship by a Thai-based company and a host of background materials; the Cambodian visa requires only that a foreign guest continues to pay.

It’s likely that the lack of any ‘filtering effect’ due to a lax visa process in Cambodia allows a more varied demographic of visitors to reside there for the long term, bringing with them a ‘colored’ range of unusual and nonconventional behavioral aspects (i.e., hoax ads placed in local newspapers to disrupt government approved events) that may not otherwise be present in guests who would be more selectively invited to reside in another sovereign state.

The Thai film industry, and therefore the Thai film festival environment, is more fully developed than that in Cambodia, with many of the key festival efforts helmed by Thai nationals. On the other hand, the number of festival events in Cambodia is limited, and they are typically foreign run & founded. In the Cambodian context, a significant degree of jostling and rivalry is observable (more so than in the Thai context) with different foreign actors seeking dominant exposure in the limited press and among the cultural awareness of residents in Cambodia.

With the famous abundance and density of non-governmental organizations in Cambodia (versus Thailand), many of the film festival events in the Cambodian context are in some capacity extensions of foreign state or non-state agencies, or NGOs, with CamboFest being the only definitively non-aligned (independent) effort currently operating in Cambodia.

Accordingly, most festival platforms in Cambodia are likely to bear financial and political linkages to their patron agencies, with agendas and media content reflecting this factor.

CAMBOFEST, Cambodia Film Festival travels to New York City and beyond

2011-11-20T16:32:00.000-08:00

CAMBOFEST (www.cambofest.com), Cambodia's first international film festival event since the end of the Khmer Rouge regime - established in 2007 - celebrates its half-decade mark with a screening of shorts from its recent 4th edition in Manhattan, New York City in December.

CamboFest later continues its US tour with a stop in Los Angeles and other cities before moving on to Canada, Mexico, and other global host venues.

The Manhattan event, hosted by New Filmmakers (New York), brings a list of short titles from parts of the world where film and festival culture is still emerging, including shorts from Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and other countries.

New York City dates: December 6, 2011

Venue: Anthology Film Archives, 32 2nd Avenue, New York, NY

CamboFest program starts at 7PM

Established in 2007, CamboFest is Cambodia's most diligent cinema exhibition platform, seeking and securing written, verifiable permissions from all copyright holders, with over 250 filmmakers participating to date.

CamboFest has recently launched an international booking component, bringing select international titles to regional SE Asia screens while bringing SE Asian titles to venues around the world.

CamboFest is seeking additional global host venues for its traveling festival component - interested filmmakers, sales agents, and potential host venues please contact below

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

CamboFest, Cambodia Film Festival

info@cambofest.com * www.facebook.com/CAMBOFEST

PO Box 707 Phnom Penh, Cambodia

CamboFest T-Shirts Available @ CD WORLD in Phnom Penh

2011-11-01T17:17:00.000-07:00

CamboFest, Cambodia's film festival T-Shirts are once again in stock at CD WORLD on street 178 (near the riverside) in Phnom Penh; international orders, email info@cambofest.com with inquiries.

...Design as seen here; Current colors available: Dayglo Green (L), Yello (L), and Orange (M)

Grabay Meas (Golden Buffalo) Winners of the 4th Edition of CAMBOFEST, Cambodia Film Festival

2011-07-01T22:57:00.000-07:00

After much deliberation, and weighing the inputs of local audiences and participants in Cambodia, the Winners of the Grabay Meas (Golden Waterbuffalo) Awards for the 4th Edition of CamboFest, Cambodia Film Festival are as follows:

Feature Fiction - 'Dark Souls', Dir. Ceasar Ducasse

Short/Medium Fiction - 'Lights', Dir. Giulio Ricciarelli

Feature Documentary - 'Salaam Rugby', Dir. Faramarz Beheshti

Short/Medium Documentary - 'Ayla My Korean Daughter', Dir. Byung Hun Hwang

Universal Language - 'Extincion II', Dir. Fernando Uson Fornies

Animation Only - 'For a Fistful of Snow', Dir. Julien Ezri

Cambodia Movie Showcase - 'Good Luck for You Every Day', Dir. Raul Gallego Abellan and Marc Martinez

Very Short Movie - 'Natural Plastic', Dir. Faiyaz Jafri

Edutainment/Social Issue - 'Pain is Temporary, Pride is Forever' Dir., Josh Lee

Thanks to all filmmakers and moviegoers for their participation!

(Filmmakers listed above please contact info@cambofest.com for further details)

German TV Segment CamboFest, Cambodia Film Festival 4th Edition

2011-05-24T18:03:00.000-07:00

...as seen here:

CamboFest 4 Wraps * Plans for the Future

2011-03-13T00:21:00.000-08:00

CamboFest 4 has wrapped despite a last minute change of venue ~ thanks to all participating filmmakers, contributors, the YAHRD Youth Group, and guests!

Regarding our plans for future editions of CamboFest: in light of chronic variances in the Cambodian media environment and government approvals process which have proven to be significant obstacles to the production of a 'normal' festival process and project, we are currently considering the best way to undertake our indie film festival in the very challenging developing Cambodian context.

In summary, we're considering adopting a bi-annual or multi-annual format (as do numerous other festival efforts in the developing world).

Such a change in format takes into consideration an assessment that the Cambodian motion picture exhibition sector may require another 10-20 years to develop to the point where independent, lower-budgeted film festival efforts are able to exist viably through a streamlined, codified, government approvals process.

Another option may be to transform the event into a 'Television' festival, which could fall under the guidance of the Cambodian Ministry of Information, which is reputed to be more supportive, favorable and cooperative with regard to some media efforts than the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts.

Additional options include a variation or spin-off of the event (i.e., 'Son of CamboFest') to be produced by the YAHRD Youth Group in Kampot, who have now been duly and adequately trained - via their experience at the CamboFest 4th edition - to run a basic, grass roots festival version of CamboFest or similar event of their own production.

Finally, selections from CamboFest (or the entire, ongoing CamboFest festival program) may be included as a sidebar showcase at affiliated regional events, such as the Bangkok IndieFest - www.bangkokfest.com

Please check the CamboFest website at www.cambofest.com, and the Facebook page at:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/CamboFest-Cambodias-First-Indie-Film-Festival-est-2007/107388979332096 for further news, developments, and updates.

Stay tuned for the announcement of the winners of the Grabay Meas ('Golden Waterbuffalo') awards, coming soon ~ all the Best!

J Rosette, Phun Sokunthearith, & the CamboFest Team

CAMBOFEST, Cambodia's indie film festival (est. 2007)

www.cambofest.com

Training the YAHRD Youth Association in Kampot, Cambodia to operate gear for the CamboFest 4.0 (www.cambofest.com

2011-02-26T04:52:00.000-08:00

Training the YAHRD Youth Association in Kampot, Cambodia to operate gear for the CamboFest 4.0 (www.cambofest.com); thanks to individual contributors who made the gear purchase possible for them!

...now just have to deal with unexpected last minute 'surprise' changes in the approvals process suddenly required by the Cambodian Ministry in Phnom Penh (vs local Kampot-only governor's approvals which were acceptable for the 2009 Edition...wah, wah, wahhhhhhh)

Southeast Asia Backbacker Mag gives CAMBOFEST a Shoutout

2011-01-27T23:37:00.001-08:00

CAMBOFEST welcomes all backpackers, flashpackers - even the Green Bay Packers

(listing below in Southeast Asia Backpacker, underneath the Laos festival...)

CamboFest 4th Edition (March 1-9) in the Phnom Penh Post

2011-01-23T03:04:00.000-08:00

Some new coverage, thanks to the Phnom Penh Post [a jpeg of a PDF]

Lineup for CAMBOFEST 4th Edition (March 1-9 2011)

2011-01-10T20:16:00.000-08:00

The lineup for the 4th year of CAMBOFEST, Cambodia film festival

is now available online:

(note: the lineup will be updated on an ongoing basis - schedule & other details coming later!)

Public Lineup Ongoing CFEST 4.0

CAMBOFEST, Cambodia uncovers another vintage pre-Khmer rouge cinema house

2010-11-13T17:50:00.000-08:00

CAMBOFEST, Cambodia uncovers another vintage pre-Khmer rouge cinema house

Here for the first time, CAMBOFEST, Cambodia (www.cambofest.com) staff present on mobile phone video one of the four original cinemas in Kampot, Cambodia.

=> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LEndbWYFTFA

Only three of the four original pre-Khmer Rouge era cinema houses remain in Kampot: the 'Maraka', the 'Royal' (re-discovered and brought back to life for the 2009 edition of CamboFest)

...and this one, formerly known as the __________________, to be unveiled for use as a possible venue at the 4.0 edition of CAMBOFEST: film and Video Festival of Cambodia.

Despite a grass-roots budget and largely volunteer staff, CamboFest surprised UNESCO and others in the Cambodian context by re-discovering and bringing back to life the vintage 'Royal' cinema for its 2009 edition (as seen in our blog at => cambofest.blogspot.com )

Founded by media producer and filmmaker Jason Rosette in 2553 (2007), CamboFest is the longest running international movie event in Cambodia.

Please consider making a contribution to our efforts as we help bring a living cinema back to Cambodia - find out more at:

http://www.cambofest.com/contribute/contribute.html

CAMBOFEST: Film and Video Festival of Cambodia

http://www.cambofest.com

Cambodian filmmaker Yvon Hem receives his Grabay Meas ('Golden Waterbuffalo') trophy from CAMBOFEST, Cambodia

2010-10-18T03:37:00.000-07:00

Photo of legendary Cambodian filmmaker Yvon Hem with the Grabay Meas ('Golden Waterbuffalo') trophy for his film, 'Shadow of Darkness', which screened at CamboFest (www.cambofest.com) 3.0 2553/2009 Edition.

Trophies from last year were delayed, in part, due to the interference by Phnom-Penh based foreign movie pirates in the previous edition of CamboFest (www.cambofest.com), Cambodia's independent movie festival, now entering its 4th season.

...nonetheless, winning filmmakers like Yvon Hem were never forgotten, and all winning filmmakers have now received their awards*!

Yvon Hem is currently also attached as co-writer to FREEDOM DEAL, the 3rd feature by Camerado director Jason Rosette (seated left in photo).

Find more information about FREEDOM DEAL here--> http://www.camerado.com/freedomdeal

NOTE (4/28/13) - Mr Yvon Hom passed away on August 8, 2012; his generosity and greatness shall never be forgotten!

Screening Submissions Underway

2010-10-07T00:02:00.000-07:00

Getting close to the end of the call for submissions for the 4.0 edition of CamboFest (ending November 1), and now starting to screen in earnest - some great work, very diverse crop of movies this year.

More info later, but stay tuned at the CamboFest website at http://www.cambofest.com for updates!

:: Stills, Video, and Other Content from CAMBOFEST 2009 ::

2009-12-08T22:57:00.000-08:00

(The 'CamboFest Story' can be found Here on the Camerado Blog)

CamboFest pre-show intro video (above) which also
thanks all our sponsors and supporters - see video

CamboFest was held this year (our 3rd), in the vintage 'Royal' cinema house in Kampot, Cambodia, a pre-Khmer Rouge era Cambodian cinema hall which we brought back to life especially for CamboFest 2009. Not even longtime local foreigners living in Kampot realized that the 'Royal' had once been a cinema house; CamboFest staff stumbled upon it by accident while scouting another vintage venue nearby.

Listen to BBC Radio discussing this year's CAMBOFEST and the Cambodian Cinema industry today

Hi-Rez stills and video of CAMBOFEST 2009 available at
CITIZENSIDE

Scores have been tabulated for winners of Grabay Meas ('Golden Buffalo') awards

Stills in the series below by top Phnom Penh photographer,

Simon Toffanello of Monsoon Pictures

To cross-reference movie stills against schedule and description, pls see the PDF of schedule and lineup here (pls note that schedule changed at the end of the last day due to technical reasons regarding "All that She Wants', with 'Hill City' and 'SlipDream' filling in)

From 'Slipdream', a CamboFest 2007 favorite, which played as a "Best of CamboFest" selection (screening out of competition due to schedule change)

From 'Hill City' screening as a short before 'SlipDream'

(also screening out of competition due to last minute schedule change)

Filmmaker John Trinh ('Agent Orange: 30 Years later'), in town for his screening at CamboFest

From 'Death in Charge'

From 'Schritt fur Schritt'

From 'Sky in December'

From 'Survive'

Staffer Narith Hoo engaging in Cambodian-style promotion: with leaflets and loudspeaker (see 'Behind the Scenes' video, elsewhere on this blog, to watch him in action)

Tomas, editor of 'Schritt for Schritt' (left) delivering a package of info regarding short German films to CamboFest founder Jason Rosette (right)

(End of Monsoon Pictures Series; this has been a selection, there are several additional stills of each screening taken by top Phnom Penh photographer, Simon Toffanello- pls contact info@cambofest.com for hi-rez stills and other uses)

Additional stills and behind the scenes coverage from CAMBOFEST staff and volunteers:

(...contrary to some local rumors which were flying around, we obtained all permissions well in advance from various local Sangkat offices and the Kampot authorities - above)

Take a look behind the scenes at CAMBOFEST 2009 (video, above)

Visiting UK/Taiwan based filmmaker Leigh Rodgers ("In Transit") talks about his film and his experiences at CamboFest 2009

Filmmaker Ilya Batuev ('Guided by Spirit') en route with us from Phnom Penh to Kampot

Climbing the rafters of the old 'Royal' cinema to set up the screen

Setting up the screen, custom made to fit the 'Royal' (but suitable for other venues - contact CamboFest at info@cambofest.com for local rental inquiries) - lack of rental houses and equipment infrastructure makes improvisation an essential part of CamboFest

Ambient light situation due to 'Royal's' damaged roof necessitated the use of this 7000 + lumen projector, courtesy the US Embassy in Phnom Penh.

Testing the gear with a live audience...

Suong Sambath (left) and Mr. Tol (right) - essential staff who learned on the job in current and previous editions of CamboFest

Mr. Tol sets up an info booth at a nearby Guesthouse...

CamboFest 2007 Grabay Meas award winner, Harri Anenden, (' The Cathedral') in town
all the way from Mauritius

Hanging out at a Cambodian roast-beef restaurant after the show -
visiting filmmaker James Speck is at the left

Celebrating a successful launch of year 3 of CAMBOFEST, Cambodia's only currently functioning annual international movie festival. Note the use of radios, which allowed us to bypass interference caused by 3rd party foreign pranksters. The presumed intention was to tie up our phone lines via fake classified ads placed in local web forums, etc.

Taking a break in between films...

Typical evening audience at Cambofest 2009, sitting on ubiquitous Cambodian-style plastic chairs. Daytime crowds tended to be thinner due to lack of air con and other factors; attendance was also boosted in any case by a large group of Vietnamese university students, visiting from Raffles International college in Ho Chi Minh city (showing up in their army of Tuk Tuks especially for CamboFest)

From 'The Playground'

Unsure of this one...

Filmmaker Leigh Rodgers, visiting from the UK especially for CamboFest 2009, introduces his extremely likeable movie, "In Transit". (See a video with Leigh earlier in this blog)

From 'Netherworld', which drew nearly all curious Cambodian viewers

Various onesheets and support materials sent in by filmmakers...

From 'Sky in December'

Cambodian animator Chuunly Poy, winner of the Grabay Meas award in the 2007 edition of CamboFest, at local roast beef restaurant after the show.

These guests had started travelling in Mongolia, and were only planning to be in Cambodia a few days - but they still stuck around for most of CamboFest! Apparently Narith had gotten to them with his megaphone moto.

Tomas (editor of 'Schritt fur Schritt), left, visiting from Germany to rep his film; Cambodian animator Panith Norm and CamboFest staffer Narith Hoo next to him.

Monsoon Pictures photographer Simon Toffanello and his gal Mum, down from Phnom Penh for the weekend to catch some flicks (and shoot some stills) at CamboFest 2009.

Mr. Tol takes a well-earned nap between shows

Visiting feline creeps across the rafters of the old 'Royal' cinema, and below

From 'Neil Reinu'

From 'Revenge of the Nail'

From 'Milking the Rhino'

Volunteers David (in green), and Koala (in doorway), materialized from nowhere to help throughout the fest

Illya Batuev and local Kampot movie fan after the show

Panith Norm, left, CamboFest's Jason Rosette (center), and Leigh Rodgers (right)

From 'Lumia'; lack of aircon on this day in particular had some impact on the first session show, but diehard fans still came to watch this very unique doc.

Visiting filmmaker John Trinh (left) and CamboFest's J Rosette at a great breakfast and lunch hangout, the "year 2000 restaurant*" (* real name unknown)

Legendary Cambodian filmmaker Yvon Hem's 'Shadow of Darkness brought in a great crossover audience of local Khmer and foreigners; although we charged an admission fee per session, we made things as affordable as we could. Local women seated in the back paid in banannas (which came in handy for busy staff)

From 'Shadow of Darkness'; a quick phone call with the filmmaker before the screening welcomed all guests to this one-of-a-kind movie, one of the first features to be made in Cambodia following the Pol Pot regime.

From 'Survive', filmmaker Roshane Saidnatter's compelling documentary - and the first Cambodian film to be nominated for a 'Best of' award at the annual Asia Pacific Screen Awards (see www.asiapacificscreenawards.com) ; movie was submitted by CamboFest as an organization repping Cambodia with the APSA.

Panith Norm's 'Mosquito in Dreaming' , below

From "Netherworld'

From 'Up and About Again' - the snow-covered car mesmerized local Cambodian viewers

'Massacrator' evoked responses of all kinds...

From 'Urban Knots'

From 'Transylvania Timber'

Filmmaker Roshane Saidnatter, visiting from France for the Cambodian premiere of her striking docu, 'Surviveand , with CamboFest's Jason Rosette

Filmmakers Leigh Rodgers, visiting from Taiwan, and John Trinh on the right, visiting from the USA

S. Korean punk flick, 'Bangham Staion' plays before a welcoming audience - movie was well received, scoring well with the audience during our surveys to determine winners of the Grabay Meas ("Golden Buffalo")

Filmmaker John Trinh (left), Mr. Tol, two moviegoers from South Africa, and filmmaker Ilya Batuev

Update: we're optioning the CamboFest story to a New York City, USA, based publisher about our experiences putting together a film festival out here in the Cambodian context. No title yet, but will include everything: the good, the bad, the ugly, and the whole 3-year adventure in detail. Look out for all the juiciest (and sometimes controversial) bits which took place behind the scenes during the course of this season's CamboFest...

Anyway, hope you enjoyed the blog and feel free to email us at info@cambofest.com with any inquiries.

All the Best,

The CAMBOFEST Team

http://www.cambofest.com

CamboFest Concludes! * Now Tabulating Audience Picks * Pix, Video & More Coming Soon

2009-12-08T05:08:00.000-08:00

Pls standby - now tabulating ballots for audience's choice to determine winners of Grabay Meas ("Golden Buffalo") awards.

Announcement to be made in a day or two...

...plenty of pix, video, and other content from CAMBOFEST 2009 coming soon!

CAMBOFEST: Film & Video Festival of Cambodia
http://www.cambofest.com

:: CAMBOFEST 2009: Film & Video Festival of Cambodia 3rd Edition - December 4-6 in Kampot, Cambodia ::

2009-12-01T21:24:00.001-08:00

CAMBOFEST: Film and Video Festival of Cambodia - Cambodia's only functioning international movie festival - kicks off its 3rd year on the lovely South coast of Cambodia in Kampot (near Kep and Sihanoukville)

Movies will screen in the vintage, pre-Khmer Rouge era cinema , the 'Royal'

See schedules in English and Khmer here-->

http://www.camerado.com/cambofest_assets/CAMBOFEST_2009.pdf

Find out more info at:

CAMBOFEST
http://www.cambofest.co

*** CAMBOFEST 2009 Lineup and Royal Cinema Hall ***

2009-11-19T20:18:00.000-08:00

////////////////////////// +++ ////////////////////////// >>>

CAMBOFEST: Film and Video Festival of Cambodia 2009 >>Lineup Announcement & a vintage Cambodian cinema house comes back to life for this year's fest!

////////////////////////// +++ ////////////////////////// >>>

CAMBOFEST: Film and Video Festival of Cambodia – Cambodia’s international, independent film festival, enters its 3^rd season with a lineup of great new movies from around the world (including Cambodia!)

Click here for the current lineup; schedules, maps, and other info TBA:

http://www.camerado.com/cambofest_assets/CAMBOFEST_2009.pdf

Movies this year are slated to screen in the colonial coastal & riverside town of Kampot, Cambodia at the vintage *Royal Cinema*.

Complete schedule and other information to be posted soon @

CAMBOFEST ~ http://www.cambofest.com

A REBIRTH OF CINEMA IN CAMBODIA

CamboFest staff stumbled upon the Royal while scouting for other pre-Khmer Rouge cinema halls in Kampot for this year’s festival. Built in the 1950’s, the Royal experienced its heyday in the mid 60’s before being shut down as a result of civil war and conflict, which culminated in Cambodia’s takeover by the Khmer Rouge regime.

The Royal with current proprietor, in Kampot, Cambodia (c) CamboFest

During the conflict, the Royal had its roof and a wall blown out, and it remained sadly dormant as an active movie hall.

The Khmer Rouge era was brought to a halt by a military intervention from neighboring Vietnam in 1978, who occupied the country until the late 80’s.

In 1985, the Royal sputtered to life again, offering a fare of Indian, Chinese, and Cambodian movies screened from video cassette.

As stability and prosperity increased, however, many residents found the means to purchase VHS players and TV sets, and attendance at the Royal gradually dwindled until 1988 - when the theater was once again shuttered.

Until now...until CamboFest 2009!

While the Royal is still in rough shape (it won’t be what you'd find at Cannes), it will be one of the most unique cinema environments you might find anywhere. We invite you to participate in the rebirth of a Cambodian cinema house from the ashes of its former self.

BE A PART OF IT!

*** PLEASE help us to make this year’s event at the Royal a key moment in the Asian cinema experience! ***

CAMBOFEST is not a well-financed film society - we're just a bunch of grass-roots film lovers in Cambodia who teach on the side while producing CamboFest, Cambodia's only functioning international movie festival. While we do aim to grow the festival in the coming years, and we did conduct a fundraiser earlier this year, we’re operating under extremely challenging conditions in a developing country which still has a very minimal cinema infrastructure.

We are therefore still very much budget-challenged and could use any assistance - in-kind or otherwise - even at this late hour.

Besides the ever-useful cash contribution* to help us, for instance, pay for accommodations for visiting filmmakers we also need to upgrade our AV gear.

[ *Contributions can be made tax-deductibly for US taxpayers through our fiscal sponsor, Media Alliance @ http://media-alliance.stores.yahoo.net/restoolandte.html

...or via our secured gateway @ https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=5452718 ]

As mentioned, the roof of the Royal still has a few holes from the Khmer Rouge era, from (letting in ambient light) and in order to properly utilize the space we would like to upgrade to a 3500+ lumens, high contrast projector and a higher performance, more reflectant screen surface.

If anyone would like to sponsor these items, on loan or as a gift, you can help make a visible and significant difference in this historic revival of the Royal cinema at CamboFest.

Anyway, here’s the lineup for CAMBOFEST 2009 (subject to changes of course)

http://www.camerado.com/cambofest_assets/CAMBOFEST_2009.pdf

Thanks to anyone who wants to be a part of augmenting this unique cinematic experience – drop us a line at info@cambofest.com with any sponsorship ideas, or travel and festival inquiries.

Sok Sabai!

The CFEST Team

www.cambofest.com

CAMBOFEST: Film and Video Festival of Cambodia

PO Box 707

12000 Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Attn: J Rosette & Mr. Phun Sokuunthearith

Mobile # 855 011 736 206

CAMBOFEST is a grass roots, private sector initiative, produced by Camerado (www.camerado.com); 501 (c) 3 Fiscal sponsorship provided by Media Alliance -@ http://media-alliance.stores.yahoo.net/restoolandte.html

:: CamboFest 2009 to be held in Kampot ::

2009-08-27T23:24:00.000-07:00

This Just In:

CamboFest 2009 Edition - year 3 - to be held in Kampot, Cambodia on Cambodia's South Coast

(Venues TBA shortly, check back at the CamboFest website)

2009-07-23T22:27:00.000-07:00

:: Submit to 2 Fests in SE Asia for One Fee ::

We're happy to announce that CamboFest [Cambodia] & the newly launched Bangkok IndieFest [Thailand] are now enabling filmmakers to submit to both fests for one entry fee--

* Feature and Short Docs
* Social Issue and Edutainment
* Features, Shorts, Animation & More

CamboFest continues to accept submissions through the end of September, and Bangkok IndieFest officially announces its call for entries at the beginning of August - but filmmakers are able to access the "2 Fests / One Fee" special now by visiting the submissions page on the CamboFest website:

http://www.cambofest.com/submit/submit.html

:::::: :::::: ::::: :::::

CAMBOFEST (Now in year 3) --> www.cambofest.com
BANGKOK INDIEFEST (*new*) --> www.bangkokfest.com

Grabay Meas ("Golden Buffalo") in Paris!

2009-07-14T22:28:00.000-07:00

CAMBOFEST 2008 Grabay Meas ("Golden Buffalo") winner Barbier Olivier [Intestines of the Earth] with the Grabay Meas at the Eiffel Tower in Paris...

Pix of Tim Pek ["Red Sense"], 2008 CamboFest Grabay Meas / Golden Buffalo Winner

2009-07-11T05:45:00.001-07:00

Tim Pek was the winner of the Grabay Meas (Golden Buffalo) award for
Local Showcase - Movie by a Cambodian filmmaker with his psycho-horror drama,
"The Red Sense"

CAMBOFEST is still accepting entries for the 2009 edition through the end of September, and is pleased to be the submitting organization for the 2009 Asia Pacific Screen Awards--Cambodian filmmakers living in Cambodia and abroad submit for **FREE** (and will be considered for both CAMBOFEST and the APSA)

SUBMIT A FILM @ http://www.cambofest.com

Seeking Cambodian Films & Videos for CAMBOFEST 2009 and Asia Pacific Screen Awards

2009-06-26T04:17:00.000-07:00

Seeking Cambodian Films & Videos for CAMBOFEST 2009

*** CamboFest to nominate Cambodian & Cambodian-themed films for 2009 Asia Pacific Screen Awards ***

CAMBOFEST: Film, Video and Animation festival of Cambodia (http://www.cambofest.com) today announced its appointment as the Official Submission Organization for Cambodia for the 2009 Asia Pacific Screen Awards (APSA).

CamboFest was invited by the International Federation of Film Producers Associations (FIAPF) and APSA to submit eligible films from the Cambodia for consideration in the second annual awards, to be held in Queensland, Australia, on November 11.

The agreement between CamboFest and APSA will facilitate long term cultural and creative exchange and development of professional business partnerships; to that end, CamboFest and APSA have collaborated to showcase cinematic achievements from Cambodian filmmakers and industry professionals to an international audience.

CamboFest welcomes further Cambodian film submissions for consideration in both the 2009 edition of CamboFest and the 2009 APSA*; please find more information at http://www.cambofest.com. [*Further eligibility details are below / No submission fee for Cambodian films]

2008 APSA feature nominees from Cambodia included: "Seasons of Migration" by Sophiline Cheam Shapiro, John Bishop, and John Shapiro; "The Red Sense" by Tim Pek [Winner of the 2008 Grabay Meas "Golden Buffalo" Award.

CONDITIONS OF ELIGIBILITY

First public screening

* Films must have had their first public screening (World Premiere) after August 1, 2008

Eligible public screenings include:

* Cinema/Theatrical release
* FIAPF Accredited Film Festival screening
* National film festival screening from the Asia-Pacific region
* Broadcast on free to air, cable or satellite television (Documentaries ONLY)

Nationality / Country of birth

* Films submitted or invited to be considered for the Asia Pacific Screen Awards must have been predominantly created in Cambodia and must reflect the cultural origins of the nominating country or countries in accordance with Section 6.

* The majority of cast/crew must have been born in Cambodia; hold a current passport from a Cambodia; or normally reside in Cambodia. (A point scoring system is outlined in The Test in Section 6 of the Charter Rules and Regulations which pertains to this criteria)

* AT LEAST ONE Producer or Co-Producer must be from Cambodia.

Running time

* Feature Films and Children’s Feature Films must be 60 minutes+ in duration.
* Documentary Feature Films and Animated Feature Films must be 40 minutes+ in duration.

Subtitles

All films must be presented in their original language and English subtitles are required for all entries not in the English language. All subtitling expenses are to be met by the film’s producer.

Please see http://www.cambofest.com for more information

CAMBOFEST 2008 Pix & Video (ongoing)

2009-01-08T20:55:00.000-08:00

The first batch of CAMBOFEST 2008 pix & video, which will be gradually captioned and organized in an ongoing fashion...

Any CamboFest visiting filmmakers who'd like to include content, pls email info@cambofest.com, it will be welcome!

All the Best,

JR
CAMBOFEST
http://www.cambofest.com

[Note: Angkorian temple pix by David Seaver Photography @ http://www.davidseaver.com]
==============================================>>>

Mr. Tol, Narith, and JRosette with the Golden Buffalo in an Angkorian temple on the final day of CamboFest 2008...

Taking a breather and reading the CamboFest program guide (in Khmer and English)...

Presenting the Golden Buffalo at XBar with CamboFest 2007 local showcase winner, Chuunly Poy ("Boy Drinking Bad Water")...Universal Language winner Norm Fassbender ("Not so Cruel Today") touches the Buffalo...

With Buffalo again...

Finalizing the list of winners in the Angkor temple...

Filmmaker Metrey Jaik ("Where the Lotus Blooms") forces Narith Hoo and CamboFest director J Rosette out the door at the end of the final day...

Shots of various movies screening with Khmer audience as well...CamboFest director J Rosette with filmmaker Metrey Jaik...fans from Finland's Midnight Sun Film Fest show off their CamboFest T-Shirts...

Support CamboFest with a purchase of a CAMBOFEST Tshirt (Large only - ships anywhere!)

Massive bicep flex for victory after third day of CamboFest wraps...

Late night at Xbar...

Chuunly Poy and animation partner-wife Koern Kolab discuss their latest movie...

Late night at FCC Angkor, venue "B"...

Back at Xbar: young curious Cambodian moviegoers...

FCC Angkor again...

Ray Leos recuperates from the flu by watching a healthy does of CamboFest flicks!

Filmmaker Jamie Cohen ("Barber of Kigali"), happy to be at CamboFest after his flight from Canada...

CamboFest's J Rosette with Park Sung Ho (and friend) of the Pusan International Film Festival...

Back at FCC, filmmaker Ella Pugliese ("I Gigantari") discussed her movie after an intro by Ray Leos...

Norm Fassbender, his producing partner Kate, and Ella Pugliese...Chuunly Puy with Mariam Arthur of Film Cambodia...

Norm and Chuunly Puy...

The backend of CamboFest: stacks of DVD screeners and staff back at the guesthouse...

More scenes of Xbar and FCC Angkor prepping for Cfest...

CamboFest founder J Rosette with fortune teller before commencing the first day...

Resting at the guesthouse...

CamboFest ads on ANZ Royal bank ATMs, just one of many methods of direct outreach & promotion of CamboFest 2008...

Other forms of outreach including web & radio spots, aired as far away as New York City:

http://www.cambofest.com/files/cambofest_15_second_spot.aif

=================VIDEO====================

...Flyering streets of Siem Reap

...more flyering and grass roots street team promotion

...even the roasted Bananna lady gets in on the action

...the old fortune teller prophesies our future; he says "you are still in uncertain times, like a boat which is between two shores..." Later he went on to say that success would be had in the end.

...Heading out to work the first day of CamboFest 2008

...Mr. Tol calls a local TV station to come over and cover CamboFest

...behind the scenes, in the guesthouse: preparing shirts, organizing disks, and taking a much needed breather.

..."Barber of Kigali" director James Cohen discusses his movie with a few moviegoers.

...more discussions

...on the road to the temple to finalize and announce the winners of Cambofest 2008

...James Cohen discusses the plight of indie filmmakers in the 21st century, in Canada and beyond.

:: The CAMBOFEST Blog ::

CAMBOFEST, Cambodia International Film Festival 4th Edition Post Festival Report

Observations on Pirate Movie Exhibition in Phnom Penh, Cambodia

A Brief Comparison of CamboFest, Cambodia Film Festival and Bangkok IndieFest (Thailand)

CAMBOFEST, Cambodia Film Festival travels to New York City and beyond

CamboFest T-Shirts Available @ CD WORLD in Phnom Penh

Grabay Meas (Golden Buffalo) Winners of the 4th Edition of CAMBOFEST, Cambodia Film Festival

German TV Segment CamboFest, Cambodia Film Festival 4th Edition

CamboFest 4 Wraps * Plans for the Future

Training the YAHRD Youth Association in Kampot, Cambodia to operate gear for the CamboFest 4.0 (www.cambofest.com

Southeast Asia Backbacker Mag gives CAMBOFEST a Shoutout

CamboFest 4th Edition (March 1-9) in the Phnom Penh Post

Lineup for CAMBOFEST 4th Edition (March 1-9 2011)

CAMBOFEST, Cambodia uncovers another vintage pre-Khmer rouge cinema house

CAMBOFEST, Cambodia uncovers another vintage pre-Khmer rouge cinema house

Cambodian filmmaker Yvon Hem receives his Grabay Meas ('Golden Waterbuffalo') trophy from CAMBOFEST, Cambodia

Screening Submissions Underway

:: Stills, Video, and Other Content from CAMBOFEST 2009 ::

CamboFest Concludes! * Now Tabulating Audience Picks * Pix, Video & More Coming Soon

:: CAMBOFEST 2009: Film & Video Festival of Cambodia 3rd Edition - December 4-6 in Kampot, Cambodia ::

CAMBOFEST: Film and Video Festival of Cambodia - Cambodia's only functioning international movie festival - kicks off its 3rd year on the lovely South coast of Cambodia in Kampot (near Kep and Sihanoukville)

*** CAMBOFEST 2009 Lineup and *Royal* Cinema Hall ***

:: CamboFest 2009 to be held in Kampot ::

Grabay Meas ("Golden Buffalo") in Paris!

Pix of Tim Pek ["Red Sense"], 2008 CamboFest Grabay Meas / Golden Buffalo Winner

Seeking Cambodian Films & Videos for CAMBOFEST 2009 and Asia Pacific Screen Awards

CAMBOFEST 2008 Pix & Video (ongoing)

*** CAMBOFEST 2009 Lineup and Royal Cinema Hall ***