OCIC Supports Cambodia as Guest of Honour at Angouleme Film Festival 2026

Cambodia Takes theSpotlight

Cambodia takes center stage as guest of honor at the 19thedition of Angoulême’s French-language film festival, taking place from 24 to29 August in France. The Angoulême Film Festival is one of the main events celebratingFrench-language cinema. Nine Cambodian films were screened throughout the week,including La joie de vivre (1969), directed by King Father NorodomSihanouk himself and screened in the presence of his daughter, H.R.H. PrincessNorodom Arunrasmy, member of the Cambodian delegation at the festival.

As one of the festival's partners, OCIC presented a videointroducing Cambodia and Techo International Airport, the country's newinternational gateway, while showcasing Khmer culture through images of Apsaradancers performing.

This is not the first time OCIC has been involved inCambodian cinema. In 2024, the group funded a series of European premieres for LaBeauté du geste, a documentary by Xavier de Lauzanne on the Cambodian RoyalBallet and Apsara dance. The film captures the final production overseen by thelate Princess Norodom Buppha Devi.

More recently, the group helped produce Returning Gods,a film by Hun Pen and Yoshiro Osaka on the return of Khmer artifacts toCambodia, and contributed to Pithi - Objects of Ceremony, an exhibitionof repatriated artifacts at Koh Pich City Hall.

A History That RunsDeeper Than Language

Cambodia’s ties to the Francophone world extend beyondlanguage. His Late Majesty King Father Norodom Sihanouk was among the foundingfathers of the Francophonie. Cambodia’s presence as this year’s guest of honormarks a step towards hosting the Francophonie event in November 2026.

The festival also served as a platform for new partnerships.On 24 August, H.E. Nuon Pharat, Governor of Kampong Thom, signed a Letter ofIntent for Partnership with the City of Angoulême, paving the way forcooperation in culture, heritage, and exchanges.

An Airport Built on the Same Idea

The video presented by OCIC offeredan opportunity to showcase a project that goes beyond the screen, introducingTecho International Airport while highlighting Cambodia’s culture and welcomingspirit. The airport’s design celebrates Khmer heritage, with hand-carveddetails, a central golden Buddha, and a roof echoing traditional Cambodianarchitecture. This distinctive design has earned international recognition,with Techo International Airport recently named among the world’s mostbeautiful airports by the Prix Versailles.

This year, Angoulême broughtCambodian cinema to an international audience, while Techo InternationalAirport is opening a new gateway to Cambodia.