Aug 7, 2023
2023 Cambodia (Phnom Penh) – China (Fujian) Film Cultural Exchange Week Concludes Successfully
The 2023 Cambodia (Phnom Penh) – China (Fujian) Film Cultural Exchange Week was successfully held in Phnom Penh on August 7, 2023. The event featured a High-Level Forum on Cambodia-China Film Cooperation & Development, an opening ceremony, and screenings of outstanding Fujian-produced Chinese films. Through these activities, guests experienced the cultural charm of Cambodia and China on screen, fostering in-depth exchanges, interactions and integration between the two nations. Mainstream media outlets including National Television of Cambodia, Cambodia Sin Chew Daily, Fuzhou Daily and Fuzhou TV covered the grand occasion extensively.
Front-page headline coverage in Cambodia Sin Chew Daily
Under the guidance of H.E. Phoeurng Sackona, Minister of the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts of the Kingdom of Cambodia, and H.E. Som Sokun, Secretary of State, Ms. Hong Li, Vice Chairperson of the Organizing Committee of Cambodia Asian Film Festival (CAFF), extended a cordial invitation to a delegation of distinguished Chinese guests. Attendees included Ms. Lu Jing, Member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Fuzhou Municipal Committee, Director of the Publicity Department, Director of the United Front Work Department and First-Class Inspector; Mr. Lin Ruihua, Cultural Counselor of the Chinese Embassy in the Kingdom of Cambodia; as well as representatives from the Executive Committee of the Silk Road International Film Festival (Fuzhou). All leaders participated in the full schedule of events, which received widespread acclaim from all participating parties.
At the High-Level Forum on Cambodia-China Film Cooperation & Development held in Phnom Penh, industry insiders shared constructive proposals on co-production prospects between the two countries. Speakers included Mr. Cheap Sovichea from the Cambodian Film Commission, Mr. Leak Lyda, Founder & Executive Producer of LD Film Production, and renowned film director and screenwriter Jiang Xiaoyu. Separately, Mr. Houy Sourith from the Film Department of the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts of Cambodia, Mr. Liu Dongming, Executive Deputy Director of the Executive Office of the 10th Silk Road International Film Festival, and representatives from the Organizing Committee of Cambodia Asian Film Festival held lively discussions covering the current state of both nations'film markets and policies to encourage filmmakers to shoot and produce works in Cambodia and China.
Cambodian and Chinese leaders witness the signing of the 2023 Phnom Penh White Paper
During the forum, Ms. Hong Li, Vice Chairperson of the Organizing Committee of Cambodia Asian Film Festival, and Mr. You Yichu, Party Secretary & Chairman of Fuzhou Ancient Houses Group Co., Ltd., as well as Executive Director of the Executive Office of the 10th Silk Road International Film Festival, jointly signed the 2023 Phnom Penh White Paper.
The signing of the 2023 Phnom Penh White Paper establishes a more stable, win-win cooperation platform and creative space for the Cambodia-China film industry, facilitating bilateral film exchanges and collaboration to jointly explore new opportunities and build a promising future for the sector. The document stipulates that all films produced in Fuzhou, China and all motion pictures co-created by Fuzhou-born Chinese filmmakers shall be eligible for official submission to the Cambodia Asian Film Festival, with key policy support to be provided by the Publicity Department of the CPC Fuzhou Municipal Committee. Upon release of this news, countless filmmakers have been inspired to submit their works to the official competition of the Cambodia Asian Film Festival.
Opening Ceremony of the Cambodia (Phnom Penh) – China (Fujian) Film Cultural Exchange Week
On August 7, the opening ceremony of the 2023 Cambodia (Phnom Penh) – China (Fujian) Film Cultural Exchange Week took place at Olympia Cinema in Phnom Penh. The organizing committee presented five outstanding Fujian Chinese feature films for local audiences: Ping Pong of China (depicting the ups and downs of China's men's table tennis team in the early 1990s), The Monkey King, Love on Gallerv Bridge, Island Keeper and Hear the Light. This cultural exchange model centered on film has struck a chord with Cambodian audiences.
As a performing art integrating visual and audio elements, cinema showcases national culture and mirrors social landscapes, laying a solid foundation for mutual understanding between peoples worldwide. This bilateral film exchange has not only boosted cultural ties and tourism industries of both countries, but also greatly advanced the friendly bilateral relationship between Cambodia and China.
The 2023 Cambodia (Phnom Penh) – China (Fujian) Film Cultural Exchange Week was co-hosted by the Organizing Committee of the Cambodia Asian Film Festival and Fuzhou Film Festival Co., Ltd. It was guided by the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts of the Kingdom of Cambodia, Fujian Film Bureau of China and the Publicity Department of the CPC Fuzhou Municipal Committee, with on-site implementation undertaken by Fujian Lequan Huyu Film Co., Ltd. The successful staging of this event marks the launch of deeper cross-border collaboration on film culture and related industries, following the formal partnership forged between the Organizing Committee of Cambodia Asian Film Festival and the Executive Committee of the Silk Road International Film Festival (Fuzhou) back in 2019 as sister festivals.
Ms. Hong Li, Vice Chairperson of the Organizing Committee of Cambodia Asian Film Festival
The Cambodia Asian Film Festival is a flagship cultural event hosted by the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts of Cambodia, while the Silk Road International Film Festival ranks among China's premier international film galas. As officially designated sister festivals, the Organizing Committee of Cambodia Asian Film Festival previously participated actively in the 6th and 8th editions of the Silk Road International Film Festival held in Fuzhou, bringing a lineup of outstanding competition and screening titles to each event. Moving forward, the Cambodia Asian Film Festival will continue to partner with outstanding film works for selection, screening, awards presentation and industry exchanges, supporting the development of cinema and delivering a spectacular feast of light and shadow.