Memory! Film Festival

Dubbed as Asia’s first cinema heritage film festival, Memory! Film Festival kicked off from June 1st with the presence of His Majesty King Norodom Sihamoni. It was organized by Bophana Centre which has been spearheaded by Rithy Panh, a world-famous Cambodian French filmmaker), Technicolor, Cambodia Film Commission, and others (as seen/listed in the pic below). Davy Chou, my former film teacher was an important part of this first-ever heritage film festival in Asia. He is a funny, friendly guy and loves films very much. I wasn’t really interested in film or film-making until I first met him in 2009 and got drawn into the film world.
I am not proclaiming that I am a film-maker, but I am just one of a bunch of Khmer young people who are eager to learn something and create opportunities for the next generations. Davy instills to us the love of films and curiosity into the world of imagination through lens. He helped us learn and helped himself create a sorta world-famous film called “Golden Slumbers,” which has been screened in many parts of the world.
Thanks to him, my friends and I decided to make this “Kon Khmer Koun Khmer” or “Khmer Films, Khmer Generations” sustainable by continuing to produce new films as well as new film-related events every year such as FilmCampKH (every March) and other small screening events. First, we want to inspire ourselves to keep going, and as we go along, we are happy to be able to inspire others to make films or learn something about films.

I know it was a bit too late to blog about this memory!film festival! ;D So do keep updated on this Blue Lady Blog FB page if you would like to know some things that are happening in Cambodia. As expected, close to 1,000 guests arrived before 5:30pm on Saturday, June 1st, 2013. It was a wonderful time to meet with old friends I’ve interacted before.

Memory! film festival was a 9-day event of screening great old movies produced in Cambodia and many countries. Anybody could come see those films for free at three venues: Chaktomouk Theatre, Bophana Centre and French Institute. Movies made as early as the 1950s in India and many others were shown during the 9 days. The event was concluded with the screening of Apsara, a Khmer feature film produced by late King Father Norodom Sihanouk and starred by Norodom Bopha Devi, the eldest daughter of him.
A lot of friends of mine who couldn’t join this memory! film festival, asked me how they could see movies produced by King Father. Back in 2009, my film teacher, Davy Chou, my friends and I helped make this film exhibition of the golden era (1950s/1960s) which was called “Golden Reawakening Exhibition”, and that brought back a lot of memories of the old good films. Hopefully, all those films from the 1950s/1960s can be made available on Youtube in the future!
 
FB page: http://www.facebook.com/Memoryfilmfestival
Website: http://www.memoryfilmfestival.org/