Rhea Soco Neis
The opening of the ten-day European Film Festival Cambodia (EUFF) festival has kicked off, with a total of 26 feature films from more than 20 countries screened at four locations in Phnom Penh.
The official opening ceremony – held at the French Institute – started with the outdoor screening of the Ukrainian film Mother of Apostles which tells a story about a mother who is searching for her son, whose humanitarian plane was shot down over Russian-occupied Ukraine.
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H.E. Carmen Moreno, the Ambassador of the European Union to Cambodia that the film festival gives a splendid overview of European diversity, creativity and the competitiveness of the European film industry.
“Movies are one of the ways in which human beings communicate among themselves and we try to understand each other. Through films we express the way we see the world and maybe by watching these films, Cambodia can understand better the European way of thinking and the European minds,” Moreno said.
Reinforcement of the relationship between Cambodia and Europe
H.E Som Sokun, the Secretary of the State of the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts said that the film festival is a positive reinforcement of the relationship between Cambodia and Europe, especially in the area of culture.
“We recognize that Europe has brought a significant contribution to peace as well as restoration and reconstruction in regard to Cambodia’s social economic development. From year to year, our bilateral relationship has grown gradually in the field of politics, economics, development and culture,” he said.
Sokun also emphasized that the film festival is an opportunity for the people of the two continents to learn from each other. He is hoping the Kingdom of Cambodia will be ready to welcome European filmmakers to film in Cambodia.
“On behalf of the Ministry of Culture and Fine arts, I would like to encourage European filmmakers to explore the potential in Cambodia’s film industry, especially via the use of the Cambodian countryside as a setting in films,” he added.
He stressed that artists and filmmakers not only entertain but also contribute to social debate and build critical thinking among people.
H.E. Jacques Pellet, the Ambassador of the Republic of France, added that they wanted to reaffirm their strong support to Ukraine as it continues to fight for its freedom and for its sovereignty.
“You can count on my country, you can count on the EU, you can count on many to stand with you and to stand by your side for values and principles which are the core of the international order,” the ambassador commented.
He said that by choosing a Ukrainian film for the festival, they want to emphasize how much they considered Ukraine as a full member of the European family. He also commended the government of the Kingdom of Cambodia for its condemnation of the Russian war in Ukraine.
EUFF successfully returned to Phnom Penh in 2022
H.E. Olesandr Gaman, the Ambassador of Ukraine to Vietnam, said he wholeheartedly appreciates the support being shown by the European Union and the other nations including Cambodia.
The European Film Film Festival, initially launched in 2003 and discontinued in 2015, successfully returned to Phnom Penh in 2022.
The festival, which will be showcasing a wide range of unique and captivating European films, will be screening at Aeon 1 Mall’s Major Cineplex theatre, French Institute, Meta House and Bophana Centre from February 17 – 25.
Two special screenings of 18 short films will also take place at Bophana Centre and Hops Craft Beer Garden on February 25 and 26. The short film covered topics such as LGBTQ+ and the environment. The screening is of free admission and on a first-come, first-serve basis.
The schedule of screenings and the full program can be checked at eurofilfestkh.edu or its Facebook page eurofilmfestkh.
