Little Ease Films and Zanzibar Films have announced that Eclipse Pictures will release their award-winning documentary A Cambodian Spring in Irish cinemas from 4th May. Winner of the Special Jury Prize at the 2017 Hot Docs International Documentary Festival, winner of Best Documentary at the Brooklyn Film Festival and nominated for Best Feature Documentary at 2018 Irish Film & Television Awards, the critically-acclaimed film has gone on to win a slew of other awards and feature in many other film festivals around the world.
A Cambodian Spring is an intimate and unique portrait of three people caught up in the chaotic and often violent development that is shaping modern-day Cambodia. Shot over 6 years, the film charts the growing wave of land-rights protests that led to the ‘Cambodian Spring’ and the tragic events that followed. This film is about the complexities – both political and personal, of fighting for what you believe in.
After more than nine years in the making, I am thrilled that A Cambodian Spring will have its Irish theatrical release on the 4th of May. The film has been a huge labour of love for me, and I hope that the passion and care that went into making it comes through to the Irish audience and creates a memorable experience.
A Cambodian Spring is for me a deeply personal film. It is an exploration of what motivates us, what gives our lives meaning, and what happens when our personal desires colour and shape our actions. It is an unapologetically subjective portrait of my time in Cambodia, of the people who shared their lives with me and of the shifting landscapes, both physical and emotional, that I found there. There is a powerful original score by acclaimed electronic musician James Holden, whose soundtrack perfectly complements the decaying landscapes of the film.
Chris Kelly, Director
It has been a pleasure to be involved with Chris Kelly for the last nine years on A Cambodian Spring and see him realise his film and pick up rave reviews and awards which are all well deserved. Zanzibar’s involvement was to support the vision of Chris Kelly on his journey to help document and give a voice to tell the story of the injustice against this community in Cambodia. We are very grateful to the support of Northern Irish Screen and The Irish Film Board as without this support this documentary would not have been made!
Edwina Forkin – Zanzibar Films
A Cambodian Spring will be released in Irish cinemas from 4th May. The director Chris Kelly and Venerable Sovath will be in attendance at select screenings in Ireland in advance of release. For more information on the film please visit: acambodianspring.com
Read Scannain‘s 4 star review here.