Philippe Claudel Inaugurates the First “Goncourt Choice of Cambodia”

The President of the Académie Goncourt, Philippe Claudel, humbly inaugurates the first “Goncourt Choice of Cambodia” with francophone pupils and students. This initiative strengthens French literary influence in Phnom Penh, in connection with the upcoming Francophonie Summit.

Context

Philippe Claudel, French novelist and filmmaker, has presided over the Académie Goncourt since 2024—an institution founded in 1903 by the brothers Edmond and Jules de Goncourt.

On January 27, 2026, he officially opened the first edition of the “Goncourt Choice of Cambodia.” The event took place at the Lycée Français René Descartes in Phnom Penh, in the presence of nearly seventy tenth-grade pupils and around fifteen students from francophone programs at Cambodian universities.

Organized under the auspices of the French Embassy and the French cultural network, this gathering aims to introduce the younger generation to contemporary francophone literature. Claudel clearly presented the history of the Prix Goncourt, the oldest and most influential of French literary prizes, and explained its selection process: a small jury of academicians annually designates the most remarkable novel of the year. He also highlighted the prize’s economic impact on the French book market, where the winning novel typically sells over 300,000 copies in its first year.

Reading as a Gateway to Openness

Philippe Claudel’s address centered on a thoughtful reflection on reading, which he views as a privileged space for intellectual sharing, personal introspection, and mutual cultural understanding. Author of novels such as Les Âmes grises (Renaudot Prize 2003) and Le Rapport de Brodeck (2007), Claudel embodies this vision through a body of work exploring collective memory and inner exile. His career, bridging literature and cinema—with films such as Il est temps de partir (2022)—lends quiet authority to his words.

This pedagogical approach aligns with the tradition of the “Goncourt Choices,” an international program launched by the Académie in partnership with the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs. Deployed in about seventy countries, it engages thousands of high school and university students each year to debate and vote for their favorite novel among the Prix Goncourt finalists.

In Cambodia, this first edition brings together local educational actors, reinforcing ties with AEFE (the Agency for French Education Abroad), to which the Lycée René Descartes is affiliated.

Competing Works

Cambodian participants will deliberate on the four finalists of the 2025 Prix Goncourt, selected on November 4, 2025, by the Académie:

Work	Author	Publisher	Main Themes
La Maison vide	Laurent Mauvignier	Éditions de Minuit	Solitude, family memory
Le Bel Obscur	Caroline Lamarche	Le Seuil	Identity, inner light
La Nuit au cœur	Nathacha Appanah	Gallimard	Exile, Mauritian humanity
Kolkhoze	Emmanuel Carrère	P.O.L	Collective history, introspection

These works, representative of francophone diversity—France, Belgium, Mauritius—illustrate the vitality of contemporary publishing. Laurent Mauvignier, an established figure in French fiction, explores the silence of an abandoned house. Caroline Lamarche, winner of the 2019 Prix Médicis, deploys a refined and minimalist prose. Nathacha Appanah, a unique voice from the Indian Ocean, examines postcolonial fractures. Emmanuel Carrère, master of autofiction, revisits Soviet utopias.

The Stakes of the “Goncourt Choice” Network

The “Goncourt Choice” initiative transcends school boundaries to promote francophone literary culture. Since its inception in 2010 with the “Goncourt Choice of Asian High School Students,” it has expanded to national and continental juries, often culminating during diplomatic events.

In Cambodia—a historically francophone country with an active community supported by the French Institute and the International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF)—this initiative strengthens a rich linguistic and cultural heritage.

Local deliberations are scheduled alongside the 20th Francophonie Summit, which Cambodia will host in November 2026 in Siem Reap, near Angkor Wat. Decided at the 2024 summit in Villers-Cotterêts, this event will bring together around forty heads of state and government, as well as representatives of international organizations. It will mark a first for Southeast Asia, underscoring Cambodia’s commitment to linguistic diversity and sustainable development.

Perspectives

Phnom Penh—the capital of a kingdom where French remains a prestigious language in higher education and among the elite—offers fertile ground for such exchanges. The Lycée René Descartes, with its 1,200 students, and partner universities such as the Royal University of Phnom Penh embody this vitality.

The “Goncourt Choice of Cambodia” adds to a dynamic local network—French Alliances, literary circles—promoting the translation and dissemination of francophone works into Khmer.

Ultimately, this inaugural edition could inspire further initiatives: local publishing partnerships, literary festivals, or writer residencies. It reaffirms literature’s role as an instrument of cultural diplomacy—soft power—at a time when the Francophonie counts 321 million speakers and aims to expand its presence in Asia.

In essence, the initiative led by Philippe Claudel lays the foundation for an intergenerational and international dialogue rooted in academic rigor and literary excellence.