PHNOM PENH: The French Institute of Cambodia (IFC), in partnership with Major Cineplex, has brought the world-renowned Cannes Film Festival to Phnom Penh! For nine days, from 20-28 May, a selection of 19 international films from the 2020-2021 edition of the Cannes Film Festival will be screened and presented at the French Institute and Major Cineplex, AEON 1.
‘Cannes in Phnom Penh’ is organized as an homage to the famous festival in France, which celebrates its 75th edition this year, and is taking place from 17 to 28 May. The Cannes Film Festival is one of the world’s most widely publicized events and most important film festivals, in terms of worldwide impact.
The opening ceremony for the festival in Phnom Penh took place on Friday, 20 May, at the IFC, where 2021 Cannes Jury Prize winner ‘Memoria’, by acclaimed Thai independent film director, Apichatpong Weerasethakul, was screened.
“The Cannes Film Festival in Phnom Penh is an exceptional moment at the French Institute,” said Valentin Rodriguez, the Deputy Director of IFC, who sat down with EAC News to speak a bit about this special event. “It is one of the most famous international festivals in the world. Each year, [the festival] awards prizes, which will promote new films, creation and the emergence of French cinema in particular, but also international cinema including Cambodian cinema.”
The first edition of the IFC’s Cannes Film Festival in Phnom Penh was held in 2018. After a three-year hiatus, the festival finally makes its comeback, during a time when the Covid-19 pandemic in Cambodia has come well-under control. The IFC’s Deputy Director confirmed that this festival will be held every year, stressing its importance as a meeting between professionals of cinema and the Cambodian public.
He further emphasized the IFC’s commitment to supporting the arts as well as the burgeoning Cambodian film industry, saying, “We support all the arts, we support culture in the world, because it is important for peace, for the knowledge of the world and the knowledge of identities and culture. The French Institute supports creativity.”
“We support and promote Cambodian filmmakers in France, we help them with professional networks. The most famous filmmakers, Rithy Pan, Davy Chou, Kavich Neang, San Danech, Tith Kanitha, have been seen in Cannes. This year, Davy Chou is presenting his latest film, ‘Return to Seoul,’ and Rithy Pan is [also] present at the Cannes festival. The new Cambodian cinema is very beautiful and internationally recognized,” added Rodriguez.
The festival’s opening night began with a stunning Tango performance by Tango Cambodia, with Elkin Guerra & Nina Malli, accompanied by the musicians of Poca de feo y los primos. People from all walks of life were in attendance, including significant members of the Cambodian film community and the French Ambassador to Cambodia.
“I really think that any festival in Cambodia is very positive, and I hope the young people also, who are curious about the world, about life, will join,” said Cedric Eloy, the Founder and Director of the Cambodia International Film Festival (CIFF), who shared how he felt about festivals like this being held in Cambodia. “I mean, cinema is of course about big movies and action movies, Marvel, James Bond, and I love them, but there is a whole range of films that you cannot really see because they don’t get commercial distribution. So, film festivals are really to see something that you don’t get a chance to see in cinemas.”
Speaking more on how film festivals like this can have something for everyone to enjoy, he said, “The program is very, very diverse. I mean, you’ve got comedies, you have actors who have made their first movies, you have some films that are really scary, you have films that are really about philosophy, you have films that are really about learning about the society in France, in Europe, in other countries. So, there is a good diversity, and the only thing I think is: take the program, read the synopsis, what is the film about, and then try to go and give it a shot, and you might be happy with it.”
The French Ambassador to Cambodia, Jacques Pellet, also spoke with EAC News and shared how happy he was to see the IFC’s edition of the Cannes Film Festival return to Phnom Penh. He said, “The first thing I want to emphasize is that the last time we had this Cannes film festival in Phnom Penh was in 2018, so that means 4 years ago. And then, as you know, there was a pandemic here, so we had to interrupt this. So, we are so happy that tonight we, again, can convene all together, for the sake of cinema. It’s a good moment and I’m happy, that we, the French Institute, could organize this festival.”
He further added, “It’s a unique opportunity to discover films coming from all over the world. It’s the Cannes Film Festival, it’s not the French film festival. Tonight, we have a film by Apichatpong Weerasethakul, which is a very famous filmmaker from Thailand, and then you have, you know, many films from all over the world, so I really encourage everybody to come.”
Speaking more on the Cambodian film industry, Ambassador Pellet said that he is proud that France celebrates and supports cinema in Cambodia. He said, “I’m proud because France is really supporting the new cinema in Cambodia. As you know, we have been supporting the films by Rithy Panh, but also Davy Chou, and the new young filmmakers, and so we feel that the new groups of young cinéasts (filmmakers) is emerging in Cambodia, and we are very proud to be part of this development.”
“Everywhere, where we can, France is always supporting cinemas in Cambodia, in many countries. I hope that this cinema industry, the cinema field in Cambodia, will develop and more and more young people will be interested in getting into this industry,” added Ambassador Pellet.
Organizing a festival like this in Cambodia is no easy feat, and requires months of preparation and planning. Rochivorn Then, the Cinema Attaché of the IFC and main person in charge of the organization of the Cannes event, told us as much, detailing how this festival is the culmination of six months of hard work.
“The process, it took us like six months to arrange, to organize, to have the budget to write the proposal [sent] to France. Actually, we [sent] the proposal, and then we selected all the best films in the festival. There are 19 [we] selected, and some of the films had already been paid for by the [Institut Francais] in Paris, France,” said Then.
He continued, “We [also had] other films that we had to contact the distributors for; in France, Japan, Columbia, also Thailand. Like the film by Apichatpong Weerasethakul, the film ‘Memoria’, we had to contact the director, and other films like ‘Drive My Car’, which is being distributed by a Japanese distributor. Also, there are animated films like ‘Belle’, ‘Where is Anne Frank’. So, there are all the films that we selected, and then we moved on to choosing the partners to screen it outside [the IFC], we are not [only screening] at the French Institute, but actually [outside as well], so we chose Major Cineplex, which is the best major hall, cinema, in Phnom Penh.”
Until 28 May, Cambodian and international audiences in Phnom Penh can catch critically acclaimed films such as Julia Ducournau’s ‘Titane’ (winner of the 2021 Palme d’Or at Cannes), and Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s ‘Drive My Car’ (winner of the 2021 Best Screenplay award at Cannes, as well as Best International Feature Film at the 94th Academy Awards).
When asked about which films everyone was most excited to see at this festival, ‘Titane’ seemed to be the most popular choice.
“I want to see ‘The Two Alfred’ (‘French Tech’), which is a French movie by a director I love, and I want to see ‘Titane’… I loved the first one from this director, so I want to see that one too. I haven’t looked into everything [yet], but I will try to see as many as possible,” said CIFF Director, Cedric Eloy.
“I mean, it’s difficult to make a choice, because they are all very good films, they are all films that have got some kind of recognition last year in the Cannes Film Festival. But there is one obviously, I would say ‘Titane’, which was the Palme d’Or [winner] last year, and I had the privilege to watch it already, and I’m eager to look at it again. It’s a very nice opera and fairytale. It is a film you should not miss, definitely,” said French Ambassador Jacques Pellet.
“For me, the film that I want to watch is ‘Titane’, which is the film that won the Palme d’Or in 2021 in Cannes. ‘Titane’ is a French movie. We will screen it here at the French Institute, with English subtitles, of course, so [everyone] can come and enjoy the film,” said IFC Cinema Attaché, Rochivorn Then.
The Cannes in Phnom Penh Film Festival will be running from 20-28 May, and will be screening at both the IFC and Major Cineplex in AEON 1. Tickets for the festival can be bought at IFC’s reception for $3 per film, or $20 for a festival pass which will provide access to all screenings. More information on the full program can be found on IFC’s website: https://institutfrancais-cambodge.com/movie-cannes-in-phnom-penh/?lang=kh#/
Don’t miss out on this fantastic opportunity to see a wide and diverse range of critically acclaimed cinema!
