In 2013 MEMORY International Film Heritage Festival was created, as an international film heritage event in Asia, where no such festival existed before, meeting a strong interest from several film archives.
The first edition of the MEMORY! International Film Heritage Festival took place in Phnom Penh in June 2013: 40 classics from around the world, delegations from 16 countries, two exhibitions, a cine-concert, conferences and encounters with international cinema heritage experts, free access to all events …
This project was carried out by Technicolor Foundation, headed by Séverine Wemaere, Bophana Center, headed by the filmmaker Rithy Panh and Memory Cinema, headed by Gilles Duval, expert in film heritage projects, with supports from all over the world.
Audience was there, as more than 9,000 people attended.
MEMORY! was also the occasion to set up a sustainable venue for film heritage screenings in Phnom Penh at Chaktomuk theater, with the installation of high-end dual 35mm projectors compliant with the best international cinematheque standards, donated to the Ministry of Culture of Cambodia.
|
|
| Chaktomuk Theater, Phnom Penh |
The event took place under the High Patronage of His Majesty the King Norodom Sihamoni and with the support of Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts and Ministry of Tourism.
A special attention was given to young generations through university, school and NGO partnerships.
|
|
|
Opening Ceremony of the 1st edition on June 1, 2013, in presence of HM the King Norodom Sihamoni |
Audience during the Festival 1st Edition |
Institut français of Phnom Penh was a key partner of the festival. International partners were Unesco, ASEF (Asia Europe Foundation) and FIAF (International federation of films archives).
This festival could have taken place in several countries in Asia. The first edition took place in Cambodia for several reasons:
1/ there is almost no access to films, in particular to film heritage
2/ the national film heritage has almost entirely disappeared (400 films shot during the Golden Age Era 1957-1975)
3/ there were existing special efforts towards the preservation of cinema and audiovisual heritage, in particular from the filmmaker Rithy Panh, in order to recover an important part of the country memory.
MEMORY 2nd edition: May 31-June 8, 2014