Whenever a movie or short film is shown in Cambodia, it is immediately judged to be the work of a foreign filmmaker from an international production company. Even when a good Cambodian movie is made, the makers rarely make much profit.

“Producing a short film means our own money. But we never get money from our production,” said Ouch Makara, the 24-year-old director of Senior Student, a short romantic film that was posted on YouTube and Facebook before being asked to show it on Bayon TV.

All the actors and crew in the movie are young Cambodians who spend their days studying or working in other careers.

“Our film is shot, directed, edited, voiced, performed and produced by me and my friends,” said Makara, who added that they also filmed a movie called Beautiful Hearth.

“We produce the film because we love it, and want to contribute to the improvement of the film quality in Cambodia as well as to show other young people that Cambodian can produce good films.”