Chaktomuk Short Film Festival 2025: A whirlwind of short films, a symbol of Cambodia's creative renaissance

Phnom Penh is getting ready to vibrate to the rhythm of the 14th edition of the Chaktomuk Short Film Festival (CSFF), an annual event for lovers of short films and a laboratory for emerging Cambodian and international talent. This year, from 17 to 20 October, the capital will be the arena for unbridled creativity, with a competition that promises daring discoveries and raw emotion.

An eclectic and courageous selection

After collecting no fewer than 196 submissions from the four corners of the globe, the CSFF made a rigorous selection, driven by a desire for diversity and excellence. Among the entries in the competition categories are local gems such as ‘A Ride’ by Chhayhourt Taing and ‘Save Your Daughter’ by Denasophealeap Vandy and Sambath Mao, alongside international films such as “Raha” (Czech Republic, France, Iran), ‘Crimson Requiem’ (China/Thailand) and ‘Ya Hanouni’ (France). In all, the competition will feature 33 Cambodian dramas out of 196 national entries and 126 international works, including 102 dramas, heralding a stimulating confrontation between different cinematic styles and sensibilities.

Themes in tune with society

According to OUM Vantharith, coach and advisor to the 2025 edition, this year's selection focuses on two major themes: life lessons and mental health. These are universal themes, but they resonate more than ever with contemporary Cambodian society, while at the same time attracting the interest of an international audience: "These short films bear witness to the growing maturity of our young directors, in terms of both the depth of their subjects and the technical quality of their work. They illustrate the hope of a vigorous Cambodian film industry that is open to the world", he enthuses.

A focus on quality and boldness

The programming team, led by Iem Tith Seiha, CSFF local programmer, emphasises the growing strength of the Cambodian scene: "This year I've noticed a clear improvement in production, directing, framing and lighting. What strikes me above all is the ability of our filmmakers to dare to explore emotional complexity, making each story captivating", he explains. The structure of the programme is also evolving this year: no more compartmentalisation between the competitive sections, but screenings organised by broad family of sensibilities (‘Life and its lessons’, ‘The shadow of the mind’, ‘Cambodian documentaries’), to encourage encounters between audiences and creators.

A festival to match Cambodia's ambitions

The 2025 edition is not content to simply push back artistic frontiers: it is also banking on international recognition, with no fewer than 5 world premieres, 2 international premieres, 6 Asian premieres and a premiere for South-East Asia. All the other works will be shown for the first time in Cambodia, confirming Phnom Penh as a hotbed of regional cinephilia. The event will take place in emblematic venues: Legend Premium Cinema Olympia, Fable Cinema, Institut Français du Cambodge and Meta House, offering an immersive and unifying experience for all audiences.

Committed partners and a call to the community

The festival is also firmly established thanks to the renewed support of the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts, the Ministry of Information, the Sunflower Film Organization, Box Media Production, and major players on the cultural and technological scene. True to its participatory vocation, the CSFF is launching an appeal for support from the public and patrons, hoping to gather the vital forces to pursue its mission of opening up new horizons for cinema from South-East Asia and beyond.

For lovers of short films, but also for all those who wish to believe in the strength of the artistic collective, the CSFF 2025 announces an edition that will be a celebration of diversity, emotion and innovation. Now more than ever, short cinema is a vital space for experimentation and dialogue for young Cambodians... and far beyond.

Phnom Penh is preparing to write a new chapter in its cinematic history during this festival.