The ninth Angkor Photo Festival comes to a close this weekend with a night of “unexpected surprises” by photographic group Blowup Angkor, outdoor exhibitions by photographers Brian Sokol and Liu Jie and the announcement of the 2013 Photo Prize winner at Saturday’s closing night at Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor.

Tonight at FCC Angkor at 8.30pm is a slideshow evening curated by program director Françoise Callier, featuring the work of 19 different photographers. Festival press coordinator Regina Meyer says the team is particularly excited about the work of Magnum photographer Carl de Keyzer, who spent seven months travelling around Europe documenting endangered coastlines for Moments Before the Flood, and Ann-Christine Woehrl’s Witches in Exile which deals with women in Ghana being persecuted for witchcraft.

Following the slideshows, Blindboys.org, the people behind Blowup Angkor, promise “photography projections, talks and unexpected surprises” at The Mouy lounge at Prince d’Angkor Hotel from 10pm.

Meyer says tonight “is going to be quite big, there’s going to be music. It’s for the community, a chance for people to catch up and relax, very casual and very cool.”

Closing night on Saturday is at Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor, kicking off at 5pm with exhibitions in the Royal Independence Gardens by American photographer Brian Sokol, and Liu Jie.

A buffet dinner will be available at 6pm catered by Asian Square, with all proceeds going to Anjali House and Angkor Hospital for Children, before the final slideshow program of six shows, plus the results of the Angkor Photo Workshops in which 30 people participated.

“One of the slideshows that’s quite interesting is by Antoine Raab about Kun Khmer boxers,” says Meyer. “He photographed boxers aged from seven to 35 around Phnom Penh and Battambang. It’s nice to have a Cambodian context.”

The results of the 2013 Photo Prize will also be announced, with the winner taking home the Hope Françoise Demulder Photo Award.

Meyer says the photo festival has been busier than ever this year. “It seems like it’s picked up this year, it’s been a big hit with everyone.”