The rise of Cambodian cinema: Anti-Archive reveals a new trend in Busan

Cambodian production company Anti-Archive unveiled its rich line-up for the 2025/26 season at the Asian Contents & Film Market in Busan, highlighting a mix of local talent and international co-productions that illustrate the dynamic evolution of Cambodia's film industry.

Among the flagship projects is Polen Ly's Becoming Human, which had a resounding success at its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival 2025 before being presented at the Busan International Film Festival. This fictional film tells the story of Thida, a young woman whose soul watches over an abandoned cinema, manifesting itself through repeated encounters with Hai, a man from the world of the living.

Daniel Mattes, spokesman for Anti-Archive, outlines the company's mission:

"Founded ten years ago, Anti-Archive's mission is to support a new generation of Cambodian filmmakers, so that their voices, stories and perspectives find a global echo. We are proud to promote a selection of films that offer an innovative and profound look at the contemporary Cambodian experience, while incorporating a keen awareness of their historical context."

The new programme also includes the film ‘To Leave, To Stay’ by Danech San, winner of Cannes La Fabrique 2025. The plot follows Mera and her friend Bopha on a perilous quest to meet a soldier they met online, which turns into a mystery when Mera disappears, prompting Bopha to undertake a desperate search.

At the same time, Anti-Archive is preparing several short documentaries and narratives in post-production, revealing some twenty emerging voices exploring various styles and themes. Among them, ‘Littlenom Pen’, a fiction co-produced with France, traces the struggle of a Cambodian woman between cultural heritage and a new life in California in the 2000s.

Across borders, the company is involved in ambitious international co-productions such as ‘Prom Spaces’, a hybrid work about urban and social transformation in Cambodia, and ‘Of a Crocodile’, which follows a Chinese woman in search of her missing ex-girlfriend in the twists and turns of the country.

Daniel Mattes insists on the diversity of voices and cinematographic forms:

"Our filmmakers share a common quest for new expressions and innovative narratives. We support those just starting out as well as projects in development, while establishing partnerships with international filmmakers who take a critical and enriching look at Cambodia".

Anti-Archive is also committed to supporting regional cinema through initiatives such as the independent magazine Margin, dedicated to Asian cinema, and the Theung Film Festival, organised on the island of Koh Sdach and founded by director Danech San.

This new wave of filmmaking supported by Anti-Archive is a collective adventure in which a diversity of perspectives and a passion for cinema combine to offer the world a fresh insight into Cambodian culture and history.

Anti-Archive

Since its creation in 2014, Cambodian production company Anti-Archive has established itself as one of the most dynamic hotbeds of emerging cinema in Cambodia. A veritable springboard for a new generation of filmmakers, it offers a space where singular artistic visions, ambitious projects and international collaborations flourish. With sixteen films already produced-fiction and documentaries, shorts and features-Anti-Archive is surprising in the diversity of its forms and the consistency of its quality.

The adventure began with three young filmmakers, Davy Chou, Steve Chen and Kavich Neang, who first got together to work on joint projects before founding this independent structure together. The spirit of collaboration has remained at the heart of their approach: roles are exchanged and reinvented, with a director becoming an actor, cinematographer or producer depending on the project. The company has also increased its number of co-productions, whether by opening up its own films to international partners or by supporting foreign directors shooting in Cambodia and South-East Asia.

In seven years, Anti-Archive has established itself on the world stage. Its films have been shown at the most prestigious international festivals, winning prizes in Rotterdam, Jeonju, Singapore and at the Critics' Week at the Cannes Film Festival. This reputation has been accompanied by an opening up to new talent: the founders have been joined by producers Sungho Park and Daniel Mattes. More recently, the “Echoes from Tomorrow” project was launched to support the early work of the company's female collaborators, such as Danech San, Sreylin Meas and Kanitha Tith, both behind the camera and in front of the lens.

This text was inspired and written by information published on Variety in September 2025.