The Kingdom is harkening back to its cinema heyday with the launch of the second annual Cambodia International Film Festival. From December 14 to 18, 90 films from 17 countries will be screened at Bophana Centre, Diamond Island, the Institut Francais, Legend Cinema and the Cineplex.

“On a Saturday night in the 1960s, you couldn’t go to the cinema here because it was packed with people,” festival programmer Cedric Eloy said.

“But nowadays young people barely know what the big screen is. Going to the movies in Cambodia is once again a new thing. We are entering a new era for Cambodian cinema.”

The genre-spanning festival includes action, animation, comedy, horror, docos, and short films.

“There is pleasure in enjoying a good movie, and it’s something that you won’t find in the Russian market or see on the TV,” said Eloy

“This is the largest yearly cinema event in Cambodia and it’s only showing in Phnom Penh. This is five days packed with movie exchanges and talks. Five days celebrating cinema and seeing different types of movies that you probably won’t see anywhere else.”

The festival was organised by the Bophana Centre, the Cambodia Film Commission and the Institut Francais, and will be hosted by Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts.