The first international independent movie festival in Cambodia!
June 16th and 17th, 2007 [Phnom Penh Edition]

CamboFest: Film and Video Festival of Cambodia is the first annual international independent movie festival ever in Cambodia! During the time civil war and genocide under the Khmer Rouge, cinema, the arts, religion, and most other forms of expression were strictly outlawed.

But now that peace and stability have returned to Cambodia, the world has once again taken an interest in the land of Angkor as a safe, fun, and unique cultural and travel destination. CamboFest contributes to the rebirth of film, video, and media production in Cambodia by showcasing work by both international and regional filmmakers.

Headquartered in Cambodia?s laid back capital, Phnom Penh ?
formerly called "The Jewel of Asia" ? CamboFest is hosted by Camerado, a media production and consultation entity which has been operating continuously in Cambodia since the beginning of 2005. As such, CamboFest is a 100% private sector, grass-roots event?unusual considering the NGO culture of Cambodia, many of whom are now launching their own donor-themed festivals.

?Putting CamboFest together is a real challenge?, says festival director and longtime indie film veteran Jason Rosette of Camerado, who has been living and working in Cambodia since he moved there from the USA in 2005. ?Back in the developed world, if you need some equipment or want to rent a screening room, all you have to do is book one.
But there are not rental houses here, you have to sort of ferret things out and hope they work. In the developed world, the Internet works, and broadband is cheap. Out here, updating the festival blog can take half-a day due to slow Internet (and you pay by the Megabyte!)

Rosette, who is supported by a Khmer staff he trained himself from scratch, continues: ?anyway, if you want to put on a screening out here and you can?t find a decent space, you have to make a space. It?s a little bit Wild West ? well, Wild East ?.?

In its first year, CamboFest has already received four times the expected number of submissions, even with entries slowly making their way out to Cambodia. Several filmmakers are confirmed to attend, which bodes well for a festival in it?s first year.

And that means, plenty of filmmakers want to show their work in Cambodia?at CamboFest!

CAMBOFEST: Film and Video Festival of Cambodia Jason Rosette, Director / Vuth Tep, Programming Assistant Phone (855) 012 194 2702 ~ camerado@camerado.com www.cambofest.com