Cambodia International Film Festival (CIFF)
Cambodia's most important film festival, held annually in Phnom Penh, celebrating Cambodian cinema's remarkable recovery after the Khmer Rouge era and presenting international films alongside Khmer productions.
Overview
The Cambodia International Film Festival (CIFF) is Cambodia's most important film festival. Founded in 2010 and held annually in Phnom Penh, the festival celebrates Cambodian cinema's remarkable recovery after the near-total destruction of the country's film culture during the Khmer Rouge era (1975-1979).
Cambodia had a vibrant cinema culture before 1975, with dozens of films produced annually. The Khmer Rouge systematically destroyed film infrastructure and killed or forced into exile most of the country's filmmakers. The recovery of Cambodian cinema since the 1990s is one of the most extraordinary stories of cultural reconstruction in film history.
CIFF celebrates this recovery while also programming international films for Cambodian audiences and connecting Cambodian filmmakers with the international film community.
Key Sections
- Khmer Film Competition -- new Cambodian features and shorts
- International Competition -- films from around the world
- Documentary Program -- nonfiction including films about Cambodia's history
- Short Films -- Cambodian and international short programs
- Archive Program -- screenings of recovered classic Cambodian films
What Filmmakers Should Know
CIFF accepts open submissions. For Cambodian filmmakers, this is the most important domestic platform. The festival's extraordinary historical context -- the recovery of cinema after near-total destruction -- gives it a cultural weight that few other festivals can match.
International filmmakers whose work addresses Cambodia, the Khmer Rouge period, or Southeast Asian history will find particularly resonant audiences at CIFF.
Major Awards
- Best Khmer Film -- jury prize
- Best International Film
- Audience Award
Festival History
CIFF was founded in 2010 as part of Cambodia's ongoing cultural reconstruction. The festival represents the continuing recovery of Cambodian cinema culture from the devastation of the Khmer Rouge period.
See Also
For Southeast Asian cinema, see International Film Markets. For festival strategy, see Film Festival Strategy.
