Phnom Penh & Cinema: 13th Chaktomuk Short Film Festival kicks off

The Chaktomuk Short Film Festival (CSFF) has raised the curtain on its 13th edition. For four days, from 25 to 28 October 2024, film fans will be treated to a selection of 57 local and international films.

The event is organised by the Sunflower Film Alliance (SFA), an independent collective of volunteers from across Cambodia with a passion and expertise for film.

Prior to the official opening of the festival, the organisers held a press conference at the Fable Cinema, located in The Factory, on 21 October.

This year, the festival received a total of 259 short films, but only 57 were selected for our audience,’ announced Sum Sithen, founder of the SFA and director of the festival.

Five local films and nine international films have been selected in two separate categories, and two different juries will decide on the winners. As in previous years, the public will be invited to vote for their favourite film, whether local or international.

According to Sithen, this year's opening ceremony will include a special performance by the Acting Art Academy and an exclusive scene from the new horror film ‘The Tenement’, co-directed by Net Inrasothythep, a two-time CSFF winner in 2017 and 2019.

“This screening proves that our young filmmakers really have the opportunity to develop their work through our festival platform, connecting with investors and film industry players,” he stressed.

Cheap Sovichea, deputy director of the Cambodian Department of Film and Cultural Broadcasting and director of the Cambodia Film Commission, voiced his support for the festival and offered advice to budding filmmakers:

“The Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts and the Film Department have always supported film programmes and festivals that give our young people the opportunity to develop their careers. To establish a career, young Cambodians who want to get involved in our film industry should start by producing short films that will serve as levers and stepping stones to other works, especially feature films,” he said.

The free screenings and events will take place throughout Phnom Penh at Legend Cinema - Olympia Mall, Fable Cinema, Major Cineplex - Sorya, Cine Hub and Workspace 2/Factory Phnom Penh. Audiences from all walks of life are invited to attend.

The Sunflower Film Alliance is supported by the Sunflower Film Organization (SFO), which has been registered as a non-profit organization since 2019. In addition to the festival, it has produced several short films and even a TV series.

Details of films, screening times and locations can be found on the CSFF website and on its social media pages.