PHNOM PENH, 30 October, 2024 — The 13th Chaktomuk Short Film Festival (CSFF) was successfully wrapped up on October 28th. The festival, organized by Sunflower Film Alliance, was presided over by H.E HIM Sotithya, the Secretary of State to the Ministry of Information, and attended by many community partners, filmmakers, content creators, numerous acting students and many honorable guests.

This year's festival awarded with cash prizes and appreciation certificates in a variety of categories, including:

Best Cambodian Short Film: "Black Light”, directed by Pisen CHHEN, for the cash prize of $1,000 and a trophy;

Second Place Cambodian Short Film: "Golden Dragon”, directed by Boren CHHITH for the cash prize of $500 and a trophy;

Audience Award for Cambodian Short Film: "Black Light”, directed by Pisen CHHEN, with an appreciation certificate;

Special Jury Mention for Cambodian Short Film: "Help", directed by Sophannarith PHON (aka Tobii), with an appreciation certificate;

Best International Short Film: "Dreams Like Paper Boats", directed by Samuel Suffren (Haiti), for the cash prize of $250;

Audience Award for International Short Film: "The Masterpiece", directed by Àlex Lora, with an appreciation certificate;

Special Jury Mention for International Short Film: "Don’t Cry Gabriel", directed by Mathilde Chavanne, with an appreciation certificate.

Please keep in mind that all local winners received additional prizes from Camera Hut, Aputure, and AMARAN lighting equipment.

CSFF 2024 was joyfully closed, providing its local and international audiences with a unique chance to (re)watch the international film with Special Jury Mention and the Cambodian best short film, recently announced for its 13th edition.

Mr. SUM Sithen, Director of CSFF 2024 and Founder of Sunflower Film Alliance, remarked,: "Some selected entries for CSFF this year were made by female filmmakers, both Cambodian and international. For instance, both juries count each a female member. Another feature is the videos made by/about children, screened and discussed by our invited story writer for children. On top, “Branded Content Masterclass” was conducted to bridge local filmmakers to their commercial/commissioned world for their life balance,"

“I was told that CSFF 2024 remains open to documentaires. These works are produced by students from Cambodian Northeast and Phnom Penh, following their training by Bophana Center and Department of Media and Communications. This proves my pride for this festival to pursue its quest to educate and inform our public while training next generations of filmmakers through such short documentaries, in line with the Ministry’s policy”, stated H.E. HIM Sotithya, Secretary of State to the Ministry of Information.

Ms. CHHEANG Somalin, one of our local judges this year, articulated that she truly appreciates the hard work of selected filmmakers in keeping their films short, yet concisely appealing to our audience. “Most commercial TVC directors I have ever worked with debuted their careers through this common platform, being Chaktomuk Short Film Festival,” added this commercial script-writer.

“I am really thankful to CSFF for enabling me to taste the success flavor tonight, with our double prizes in Cambodian Best Short Film and Audience Choice. I have been also indebted to the Acting Art Academy for offering me the chance to both act in and direct my own short film until I earn such awards, despite my professional debut,” exclaimed Mr. CHHEN Pisen, Director of “Black Light”.

Mr. Glenn ALA, Festival Advisor, expressed his remark on behalf of our international jury this year as follows:

“Don’t Cry Gabriel - For its effective use of the elements of cinema to build a world that entertains, engages, and encourages. For its demonstration of how art and self-expression make life persist in a crumbling world. And for its piercing ode to the power of being loved. For these reasons, this year’s jury has awarded “Don’t Cry Gabriel” with the Special Jury Mention.

Dreams Like Paper Boats - For its depiction of how a populace strives in a society filled with brutal violence, economic uncertainty, and political instability. For the poetic imagery that evokes both the harshness of reality and the hopefulness of dreams. For the clarity and sweetness, one can find in the film’s moments of stillness and family. And for its complex portrayal of a love that both haunts us and beckons us to endure. For these reasons, this year’s jury has awarded “Dreams Like Paper Boats” as the “Best International Film”

It should be noted that the festival was held from October 25th to 28th, for four days in a row, including opening and closing days. Furthermore, a significant crowd attended to watch all of the selected short films, as well as voted directly for the films they enjoyed most at Legend Cinema - Olympia, Fable Cinema, Major Cineplex - Sorya, Cine Hub and Workspace 2/Factory Phnom Penh.

Since its new edition launch, CSFF has been officially supported by Ministry of Culture and Fine Art and Ministry of Information, funded by Cambodian Children’s Fund and the Japan Foundation - Phnom Penh Liaison Office, and news covered by Sabay News, Kiripost Media, TV5, Cinemata, Everything About Cambodia (EAC - English news). Legend Cinema and Major Cineplex by Smart have again supported these screenings this year with their cinematic experience, joined by the new cinema in town Fable Cinema. Also, since its kick-off, CSFF 2024 has been supplied with snacks and drinks respectively by Neal (Khmer backery), 11:11 Coffee, and Coca-Cola, equipment by Cine Hub, Aputure and Amaran, production by PSE - Film School, and working with such community partners as Factory Phnom Penh,, Cambodia Film Commission, Neeson Cripps Academy, Khmer Arts Action, Southeast Asia Video Festival for Children, Acting Art Academy, Khmer Flower House.

The festival is also looking for more financial support in order to prepare and produce promotional events and materials to reach out to filmmakers, students, and the wider public, as well as to support the festival committee to deserve our audience and stakeholders’ trust. If you feel like contributing, please scan the QR code below:

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