The Japanese embassy in Phnom Penh, together with the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport, will host the “12th preliminary in-country contest of short films in Cambodia”. This event will feature films created by Cambodian high school students.
The top three films will be selected to participate in the “Asian International Children’s Film Festival 2023”, set to take place in Japan in December.
In an August 14 press release, the embassy announced an opportunity for young filmmakers. Details were revealed about the contest for high school students, held under the theme “What I want”.
An orientation for the event will be held on August 20 at the Cambodia-Japan Cooperation Centre (CJCC), located within the Royal University of Phnom Penh (RUPP), and via video link.
“The in-country contest will take place at the CJCC on October 9 at 2pm. All high school students in grades 10 and 11 for the 2022-23 academic year are invited to apply,” said the embassy in a notice.
The winners will earn a coveted spot in the “Asian International Children’s Film Festival 2023”, which will take place on December 16 in Minami Awaji city, Hyogo prefecture, Japan.
Three films will be chosen from the in-country contest in Cambodia to participate in the festival. The event will also include high school students from Japan, the 10 ASEAN member countries, and Timor-Leste.
High school students whose films are nominated will have the chance to learn skills such as teamwork and responsibility, as well as achieve intellectual growth through the film-making process.
The festival is not just about technical prowess.
“Please note that the contest does not aim to train students to become professional filmmakers.
“Instead, judges will evaluate the films based on how well they reflect the theme, the pure and innocent minds of the filmmakers, and their potential to greatly influence society, even if they are technically unskilled,” underscored the press release.
Nine high school students aged 15-18 – along with one country leader aged 40 or under, who is proficient in English – will be invited to the festival under the Japan-East Asia Network of Exchange for Students and Youths (JENESYS) Programme.
They will join the filmmakers of the nominated films for an unforgettable trip to Japan from December 13 to 19 under the JENESYS 2023 ASEAN-Japan Art Exchange, where they will attend the final contest.
JENESYS 2023 is an initiative launched by the Japanese government. The programme focuses on promoting mutual trust, understanding, friendship, and cooperation between Japan and the Asia-Pacific region.
JENESYS 2023 also serves to encourage a comprehensive understanding and appreciation of Japan’s economics, society, history, diverse culture, politics and diplomatic relations. It’s an inspiring chance for young filmmakers to gain experience and make international connections, all the while enjoying a rich cultural exchange.
