CIFF 360 à Kep : Opening of the Film Festival with Glamour and Joie de Vivre

Nearly a hundred guests gathered at Knai Bang Chatt to celebrate the launch of the CIFF 360 film festival, with a screening of the emblematic La Joie de Vivre by King Norodom Sihanouk, which set the perfect tone for the evening.

Under the soft glow of a coastal evening, the Cambodia International Film Festival — CIFF‑360 — officially opened its doors in Kep on Thursday, 14 May 2026, with a memorable opening cocktail reception at the prestigious Kep West complex, bringing together representatives of the Kep provincial administration, filmmakers, artists, film lovers and curious onlookers eager to discover what promises to be a major cultural event on Cambodia’s calendar.

The atmosphere was full of enthusiasm and warmth. For many of those present, it was their first encounter with CIFF‑360, and the setting — panoramic views over the Gulf of Thailand, the refined architecture of Knai Bang Chatt, a gentle sea breeze — provided an unforgettable introduction. Provincial officials mingled with artists and cinema fans, conversations flowing as freely as the welcome drinks, all united by a shared enthusiasm for what cinema can bring to this quietly extraordinary corner of Cambodia.

A tribute to the royal family and a vision for Kep

Jef Moons, founder and CEO of Knai Bang Chatt, Kep West and Art for Kep, spoke to deliver the official opening remarks — beginning with a heartfelt tribute. “Before we begin, I would like to wish His Majesty King Norodom Sihamoni a happy birthday,” he said.

“Kep has always held a special place for the royal family, and tonight that makes this gathering even more meaningful. We wish His Majesty health, happiness and prosperity for all of Cambodia.”

Moons then outlined the deeper ambition behind the festival and his organizations’ commitment to cultural development.

“Art, film and music help us understand who we are, where we come from and how we grow — as individuals, as communities and as a country,” he explained to the assembled guests.

“They give meaning to our lives and help us imagine a better future.” His words resonated in a venue that embodies this philosophy — a complex that has long championed Kep’s creative and artistic awakening.

Highlighting the scope of the festival, Moons reminded the audience that CIFF‑360 had already begun the previous evening with a screening in Kampot and would continue with four more days of programming in Kep. “Cambodia has so much to offer the world — our nature, our people, our history, our stories,” he affirmed. “Kep is ideally placed to carry that into the future.”

Toward a national cultural hub

The Kep West team took the opportunity to warmly and publicly thank the CIFF organizers for the outstanding quality of their work. Professionalism, careful programming and meticulous attention to detail were praised as qualities that go far beyond a film festival — they are, the team emphasized, essential contributions to a broader long‑term ambition: transforming Kep into a national cultural hub. In a country whose cultural heritage is as rich as it is resilient, creating the conditions for art, film and creative exchange to thrive in Kep is seen both as a responsibility and an opportunity.

For its part, the CIFF team expressed gratitude to Knai Bang Chatt and Kep West for their hospitality. The quality of the resort setting — its gardens, its architecture, its unfailing elegance — provided the perfect backdrop for an event of this calibre. The partnership between the festival and the complex reflects the shared belief that extraordinary places deserve extraordinary events.

La Joie de Vivre: a return journey to Kep in the 1960s

The highlight of the evening was undoubtedly the screening of La Joie de Vivre, the emblematic film by His Majesty King Norodom Sihanouk. For those who had never seen it, the film was a revelation — a window onto a different era of Cambodia, radiant and full of life. For the initiated, it was a treasured rediscovery.

Most notably, many scenes had been filmed in Kep in the 1960s, giving the audience the special pleasure of recognizing the same coast, bays and landscapes that surround them today.

Seeing Kep on screen as it was sixty years ago — vibrant, sunlit and already beloved by the Cambodian royalty — added a deeply moving dimension to the evening. It served as a reminder that Kep’s cultural identity is not something to invent, but to remember, honor and carry forward. In many ways, it was the perfect opening note for a festival whose mission is precisely that.

More photographs here