Press Release for CamboFest

Here it is: a multi-purpose press release for CamboFest...

http://www.camerado.com/cambofest/press_release.pdf

Back in Asia / New Call for Entries

Back in Asia again after a whirlwind tour to promote CamboFest in the USA...met with some great folks from Cambodia Town in Long Beach, CA (near LA).

In general, huge interest on the part of industry folks on both coasts, who all wanted to see the continued success of CamboFest--in addition to some curiosity and wonder about how we even managed to pull off the first 207 edition in Phnom Penh!

Anyway, a new call for entries is underway for the 2008 edition, with events planned again for both Phnom Penh and Siem Reap--already a big turnout with plenty of submissions rolling in, by filmmakers across the globe who want to show their movies in new places in the developing world.

Thanks to everyone who's submitted their movies so far--winners in all categories will receive the coveted Grabay Meas ("Golden Waterbuffalo") Trophy!

Gearing up for CamboFest: Siem Reap 2007

Now gearing up for CamboFest: Siem Reap Edition 2007, to be held at various venues in Siem Reap (Angkor Wat City), November 30-December 2.

We're hoping to pull off a complete mirror of the program in Phnom Penh this past June, with some new movies; but we'll have to see how the $ goes.

Remember, advertisers, sponsors and supporters, you can still get on board! Email me at jrosette@cambofest.com to see how you can be involved!

**Winners of the Grabay Meas 2007! (Including pending award for Greg Cahill's The Golden Voice) **

CamboFest [Phnom Penh 2007 Edition] was a smashing success--thanks to everyone who supported us!

Herewith are listed the winners of the Golden Waterbuffalo Trophy, as determined by audience opinion and viewing staff using our "semi-democratic judging methodology" in each of Five Categories:

Best Local Showcase (made by a Cambodian National)
"Little Boy Drinking Bad Water"
Cambodia. Dir Poy Chhunly and Yannick Zanchetta.

Best Short Documentary
"Love Man Love Woman"
Vietnam / USA, Dir., Thi Nguyen.

Best Feature Documentary
DIE AMATEURE UND DER GENERAL.
Germany. Dir., Helge Cramer

Best Short [Fiction/Animation/Experimental] - UPDATE! Provisional Award, Pending Music Rights (will re-update if/when filmmaker secures music usage rights to Cambodian artist's tracks)
The Golden Voice.
USA. Dir., Greg Cahill

Best Feature [Fiction/Animation/Experimental]
La Cathedrale (The Cathedral)
Mauritius. Dir., Harrikrisna Anenden.

SEE PICTURES of the GRABAY MEAS (Golden Waterbuffalo) AWARDS AT:

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=8BcOG7hoxcMKk

***Thanks Again to All Participating Filmmakers! ***

[Program will repeat, with some new additional movies, in Siam Reap in Dry Season Late Oct / Early November TBA]

Taking Sweaty Break in Mekong Web

Day before Cambofest, now taking a break to update blog the day before CamboFest, as I load in to Sala ArtSpace...Mekong Web conveniently located downstairs here so good for Bloggage.

Not too much to install, chairs coming later. Big banner outside looks GREAT, will try to post that pic ASAP.

Nico from Metahouse has just come back from Germany, so will have to tweak his space later this afternnon, and most challenginsly, install the BIG SCREEN downstairs.

(((Thanks for all your support, Kampuchea!)))

** Wish us luck, tomorrow is Day #1! **

Steady as She Goes

Despite agonizingly slow internet here, things move forward for CamboFest! Not sure how many filmmakers will attend, Greg Cahill (The Golden Voice) will show.

Haven't notified any rejections yet because, until the schedule is technically completely locked (5 days - week before) there's always a chance that more room will open in the schedule, etc...also there's new talk of Venu "X" opening, a mysterious third venue which would allow us to show more movies than we currently have time for in the schedule! ;)

Burnt out; must head to Kep for a few days to get my wind back...Vuth and others also taking a few days off

J

Lineup to be announced Soon; Venue B ready

Just a couple more days before we announce the lineup for the first ever global indie film event in Cambodia--CamboFest [Phnom Penh Edition 2007, June 16 & 17]

Lineup to be announced in a day or two, so check your inbox or go to:

www.cambofest.com

For the latest!

Dates Set for CAMBOFEST 2007: Phnom Penh Edition

Dates have been set, with Venue A already confirmed:

CamboFest 2007 will take place June 16 & 17th at two venues here in Phnom Penh, to be announced shortly! Filmmakers to be notified soon as well...

Was just back up in Siam Reap, scoping out venues for a Siam REap edition, currently not officially announced, but in the works with an anticipated late October/Early November date (and with Venue B already locked in!)

To stay in the loop, be sure to check www.cambofest.com

Busy Busy BUSY!!!

Running around (or shall I say RIDING around on trusty Daelim moto) like mad, collecting discs, meeting with venue folks, etc. Apologies for tardy blog action, but it's not really a top priority right now! ;)

However, might be interesting for some folks to note that I finally received one entry which had been sent on February 11th, so, arriving today here in Phnom Penh [ in good shape, it looks like] at our PO Box means an elapsed time of TWO MONTHS!!!!

Also interesting to point out that these were entries from the US; some Aussie entries zipped over here in about a week, so it definitely does depend on country of sender.

So...a few other stragglers may still be making their appearance, unless folks prefer to resend via FedEx, etc. Even so, it's probably about 10-15% entries who are AWOL in some way.

What doe this mean? Well, could mean POSSIBLY adjusting the festival date to make sure they're all in; or another option, doing an "unplugged" selection of CamboFest movies herein Phnom Penh as planned mid June, with main event in Siem Reap (Angkor Town) later, atthe end of rainy season...

Scoping out Venues in Siem Reap (city of Angkor)

Hot day today, taking break before heading out to hustle a Tuk Tuk and drive around all day, scoping out venues for CamboFest; ideally, would like to show the CamboFest program in both Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, this of course depends on what we can secure in terms of venues, gallery spaces, etc to show da'flix.

Have been to the temples a few times before, will pass today and focvus onl;y on CamboFest; even so, can feel their force from afar, tugging like a magnet. It's the Khmer heartbeat, the center of their once glorious (and very powerful) empire...

More later, internet slow up here

J

Brief diversion via Thailand; CamboFest rachets up again

Brief lull as more entries came in through Khmer post, had to take a few days off to intercept some family in Thailand.

Not to worry: trusty assistant coordnator Vuth was hustling DVDs back from the Post Office and updating the WAB info...just another example of how CamboFest has increased the skills of another local Khmer individual, Vuth didn't even know what a film festival was before he started working with us on CamboFest (all private sector so far as well, not an NGO)

More movies coming in...

Regrouping as more movies come in; looks our festival manager will be confirmed shortly and will be onboard by April 1st.

So far, some strong flicks from around the world. Main issue now is how to construct the program to appeal to both local and indie friendly audiences--the cultural divide is significant and will be interesting to address, program-wise.

New Staff Member Coming Soon!

Announcement to be made shortly; in the meantime continuing to receive and evaluate movies as they trickle in therough Khmer Post