Cambodian International Film Festival to premiere tribute to Sin Sisamouth

The film “Elvis of Cambodia”, produced by Chris G Parkhurst, will be broadcast for the first time in the Kingdom at the Cambodia International Film Festival (CIFF), which will take place in Phnom Penh from June 25–30.

Sisamouth is often compared to Elvis Presley due to his immense popularity and cultural impact. Photo supplied

Sisamouth's music played a crucial role in the country’s vibrant musical scene during the 1950s and 1960s. His career was tragically cut short during the Khmer Rouge regime in the late 1970s.

The 13th edition of the CIFF will present an extensive selection of films from around the world. This year’s festival will feature 153 films from 41 countries.

Her Excellency Chea Serey, Governor of the National Bank of Cambodia (NBC), assumes the role of the festival’s “Honorary Patron”. This position, which may be considered similar to that of a “goodwill ambassador”, reflects her dedication to the cultural and creative industries.

Sin Sisamouth

Other noteworthy Cambodian films include LD Picture’s “Sugarcane Baby” and Amit Dubey’s ”Silent Murders”,’ starring Ros Mony. Additionally, the festival will host the world premiere of “Out Of Darkness”, a film by Steven Stuart and MK Kilburn, which was shot entirely in Cambodia.

The official partners of the event include the UN in Cambodia, in collaboration with the UN Development Programme (UNDP) and the World Food Programme (WFP), and the embassies of India and Australia in Cambodia.

"We are gratified to sponsor this year’s festival in commemoration of 30 years of the Australia Awards in Cambodia. This sponsorship exemplifies our commitment to fostering cultural exchange and supporting the arts, in accordance with our core values in fostering connections between Australia and Cambodia and recognizing excellence," stated Australian Chargé d’Affaires Pablo Kang.

The festival will also propose a diverse range of international films, including "The Harvest" by Cambodian-American director Caylee So, the Thai film "How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies" and "Satu – Year of the Rabbit," the festival’s closing film.

Special programmes such as "Lifelong Learning", in partnership with the Australian Embassy in Cambodia, and "Road to Olympia" will focus on inspiring youth and celebrating sports achievements. Films such as "Radiance" by Rachel Perkins and "Freeman" will be featured.

The festival will showcase documentaries such as "Bax Axe" by Cambodian-American David Siev and "M-13: The Birthplace of the Khmer Rouge’s Brutality" by Narith Roeun.

The "Beautiful Planet" programme will emphasise environmental education and climate change adaptation, with over 30 films on wildlife, biodiversity and indigenous issues.

CIFF will also cater to families and children with the "Cartoons of the World" programme, featuring animated shorts and family-friendly films, including Cambodian tales by Colin Tie and the Indian film "Return to the Jungle".

The opening gala, which will be held at Chaktomuk Theater on June 25, will conclude with the closing film on June 30 at Legend Olympia.