Matt Dillon returned to Cambodia this week, 20 years after of the release of his directorial debut “City of Ghosts,” which was filmed in the Kingdom of Wonder. His diehard fans attended a private screening of the film on Saturday at Olympia’s Legend Cinema, followed by a Q&A.
During Matt Dillon’s return to Cambodia, he held a special meet-and-greet with his fans. After the screening of “City of Ghosts”, the guests were treated to a Q&A session organized by the Cambodia International Film Festival (CIFF). Matt was this year’s patron for the festival and spoke with nostalgia and excitement about the progress of Cambodia’s film industry. In a patron message for CIFF, he said, “Cambodia is such a very special place to me. It is such a fertile ground for creativity. It’s great to see that it’s really developed into such a thriving film industry. I look forward to seeing what these young filmmakers come up with in the future.”
In an interview with EAC News, Mr. Dillon expanded on the reasons for his visit, the main one being to recognize the life and talent of Kem Sreyvuth, a first-time Khmer actor who he cast in one of the principal roles of the film. “In many ways it's a tribute to a gentleman that I worked with on the film, which is dear friend, Kem Sreyvuth who was an actor who never acted before who I cast in one of the larger parts of the film,” he said. “Unfortunately, he passed away in November and I thought it'd be a good time to come back and see some old friends.”
Although Kem Sreyvuth passed away late last year, his family attended the screening in his honor. His daughter Meylin said she was very excited to present at the event along with her family. “I'm very excited to be able to present here in this incredible event,” said Meylin. “Also my family, they are also excited.”
She spoke highly of her father, who was proud of the work he had done and grateful for the experience. “Yes, he talked [about it] a lot, and he liked to tell all the stories and experiences to his friends,” she said. “Yes, he was very proud to be in the movie…I just know that he loved everything he has done.”
Meylin said she very much enjoyed meeting Mr. Dillon and re-introducing him to Cambodia. During his stay, Matt Dillon will be leading filmmaking masterclasses, sharing his experiences in the industry, and reflecting on the making of “City of Ghosts.”
The Cambodian International Film Festival was honored to have Mr. Dillon as their patron and to hear his insights on filmmaking in Cambodia. The full interview with Matt Dillon can be seen on our website and our other social media outlets.
