Phnom Penh & Cinema: "Cambodia: Everyday Lives", young Khmer talent at the Bophana Centre

At the 13th Cambodia International Film Festival (CIFF), Cambodia's talented young people were showcased with the presentation of the "Cambodia: Everyday Lives" project.

Sotonta Singha, director of "Banana Grill" (left) and Chamnan Phoeurn, director of "Traditional Khmer Cake" (right)

Students at the Bophana Centre in Phnom Penh, these young filmmakers from "Cambodia: Everyday Lives" have brought to light the everyday lives of some Cambodians, reflecting a profound spontaneity and reality.

After viewing the works of these Bophana students and talking with them, I'm delighted to be able to share my thoughts and experiences with them. This is one of my favourites of the Festival (CIFF). With the hustle and bustle of the Cambodian capital and Khmer traditions, I can't wait to see their other projects.

BANANA GRILL by Sontonta Singha

On the eve of his 20th birthday, Sontonta Singha presented his "Banana Grill" project, "ប៉ាប៉ា ចេកអាំង" in Khmer, for the very first time at the Bophana Centre, where he is studying.

For 14 minutes, I got to know Mr Sry ENG, a roasted banana seller based in Cambodia who, after leaving school and moving to Thailand at the age of sixteen, has returned to the Kingdom.

Sontonta's work immersed me in the most sincere realism, where the sequences allowed me to experience each moment as if I were there, and where the spontaneous interactions between Mr Sry ENG and the locals were real, precious moments of life. This spontaneity is reflected in the very essence of their meeting when Sontonta Singha buys him some roasted bananas and, out of curiosity, wants to know more about his background. It's a curiosity that has given life to a meaningful project, in which the young director accompanied him from 8 in the morning to 8 in the evening as he travelled around Phnom Penh.

It's a reality that also shows the difficulties of the job and the challenges that the salesman has to face, in particular that of receiving a stable salary every month in order to pay his debts, but also to help his parents and offer his daughter a studious future.

"I just filmed him, there was no particular script, he just opened up naturally. And the people who take part in the conversation are natural interactions", says Sontonta.

A screening that took place at Bophana, as a student at the Centre, the moment was very significant for the young director: "It's incredible to see the public watching my project, my very first. I'm very grateful", he said.

DROP BY DROP by Dam Thai

I was drawn to Yon Sokhon by the little red flashlight that protects him during his night sales. This 53-year-old from Kandal province travels the roads and streets with his colourful ice creams.

"Drop by Drop", តកៗពេញបំពង in Khmer, by Dam Thai, takes us from 7am to 11pm into Yon Sokhon's daily life. Intense days when young and old come to buy his ice creams and which always end with the same ritual: applying tiger balm from head to toe.

A project highlighting such a resilient man, his dynamism, smile and humour made me want to travel the streets of Cambodia with him.

TRADITIONAL KHMER CAKE by Chamnan Phoeurn

The "Traditional Khmer Cake", "នំមង្គល" in Khmer, by Chamnan Phoeurn, a 25-year-old student at the Bophana Centre, took the public on a journey to Kandal province, more precisely to the commune of Kien Svay, to meet Madame Yin Kin.

Aged 82, this former Khmer classical dancer prior to the Khmer Rouge regime starts every day at 4am to make the traditional Khmer rice cakes ("នំអន្សម" and "នំគម") that she and her daughter have been selling every day since 2000.

A real art and know-how that has been passed down from generation to generation, these women contribute to Khmer traditions, particularly with the orders they receive from pagodas for various ceremonies.

During this screening, it was an honour to be able to listen to the words of Madame Yin Kin, and Chamnan Phoeurn's work gave me a unique immersive experience, as if I were right there with her.

"I love the film industry so much and I'm so proud that my film will be screened at the Cambodia International Film Festival. I'm very grateful," says Chamnan Phoeurn with great humility.

The screening is the result of a year's training at the Bophana Centre under the "Training Tomorrow's Film Directors and Promoting Exchange and Archival Development through Cambodia's Filmmaking" programme, where the audience was able to talk to the young filmmakers.

The Cambodia International Film Festival was a real opportunity for these Bophana students, classmates who may well end up working together on several projects in the future.

My time at Bophana was one of the most memorable of the festival. During my discussions with the young filmmakers, I sensed their passion, determination and ambition to promote Khmer culture through audiovisual means. I hope to have the opportunity to discover their projects.

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