Culture: Domner Khmer Art Festival brings Golden Era films to new audiences

A three-day arts festival - featuring film screenings, a photo exhibition, Khmer performing arts, a concert by Princess Norodom Jenna, a fashion show and the announcement of the winner of a screenwriting competition - kicked off this morning in Chroy Chngvar.

The Domner Khmer Art Festival is organised by a group of dedicated young Cambodians who have built up an archive of Khmer films and songs from the "golden era" of the 1960s and 70s

The Domner Khmer Art Festival is organised by a group of dedicated young Cambodians who have built up an archive of Khmer films and songs from the "golden era" of the 1960s and 70s.

The event showcases a variety of art forms to unite Khmer art lovers and connect the past, present and future, enabling young Cambodians to better understand the history of modern art and culture in the Kingdom.

The festival, themed "The Soul of Khmer Music and Film", aims to commemorate and present to the public historical documents that show the greatness of Khmer film and music that once existed.

It aims to introduce the new generation of young people to the glorious past of the Khmer "Golden Age" before 1975, to promote knowledge and love of national culture, and to strengthen the relationship between old and new artists.

The festival will feature a variety of activities, including the screening of five films from the 1960s and 1970s: Preah Chan Korop, Sovann Hang, Koukam Te Bong, Neang Sak Kra Ob and a documentary about Charles de Gaulle's visit to Cambodia in 1966.

There will also be a musical performance entitled "The Soul of Cinema", a discussion forum on heritage and the arts, fashion shows and an evening concert featuring some of the classic hits of the Golden Era.

The winners of the Samdech Preah Mohessara Norodom Chakrapong Screenwriting Award will also be announced.

The programme was initiated by the Union of Cambodian Youth Federations and has the support of the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts and the Ministry of Information.

The Domner Khmer Group is made of 28 young people. It was established in February 2023 to research and archive Khmer film and music from the 1960s and 1970s.

The three-day art festival is being held at the UYFC headquarters in the Khemarani Building from December 9 to 12, running daily from 9 am to 9 pm. Phone: (855-23) 210 489. Fax: (855-23) 210 489. Email: uyfc@camnet.com.kh