PHNOM PENH: The Director of the Cambodia International Film Festival (CIFF), Cedric Eloy, has shared that the festival organizers will soon be hosting a very prestigious event, with the King and Queen Mother of Cambodia as the main guests of honor.
A special gala and film premiere will be held for the documentary, ‘The Perfect Motion’, by French director, Xavier de Lauzanne, at the Chaktomuk Conference Hall on Sunday, 26 March 2023.
“We are premiering this film, 'The Perfect Motion', which will also be released in cinemas on 1 April nationwide, and we are presenting this film in the presence of the King of Cambodia and the Queen Mother of Cambodia," said Eloy. "It’s a very prestigious honor for CIFF to organize this event and to introduce this movie.”
He further elaborated on what the film is about, particularly focusing on Princess Buppha Devi’s contribution to Royal Cambodian Ballet.
“This movie is a documentary that follows the history of the Royal Ballet, including Buppha Devi and what [she] contributed to preserve this art, and [the impact she had internationally]," he said. "[The documentary also details] one hundred years ago, when the first [Royal Cambodian Ballet] dancers went and were filmed and photographed in Paris. The filmmaker (Lauzanne) really tried to give an overview of the origins and first images of ballet, from back then until today.”
Speaking more about CIFF itself, Eloy explained that the festival was originally supposed to be held this month, however, the dates have now been pushed to 30 May to 4 June. CIFF will, however, still host a few events from 29 March to 1 April under the banner of ‘CIFF Sprouts’, which will act as an “appetizer” for the full festival.
He also shared a few highlights of the regional focuses this year's festival program will include.
“The Vietnamese program will be interesting… [to see what Vietnamese cinema is like today], what the new trends are, [and who] the new filmmakers are," he said. "We will also [screen some] classics from Africa, because African cinema is little known [in Cambodia]."
“[The program focuses on films] made by African filmmakers, not [films that are made] in Africa, so films that come from the continent," he added. "Some have been restored from the 80s and 90s and we have managed to put together a program focusing a bit more on comedy in African cinema.”
Overall, Eloy promised that this year’s festival will be even bigger and better than in previous years.
‘The Perfect Motion’ will premiere this Sunday at a royal gala event at the Chaktomuk Conference Hall. The film will then be released in cinemas nationwide on 1 April.
Catch ‘CIFF Sprouts’ film events held each day from 29 March to 1 April, and the 12th edition of the Cambodian International Film Festival (CIFF) later this year from 30 May to 4 June.
