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Vanny: a passion for cinema

Vanny overcame obstacles to pursue his dream of working in cinema. He talks about his unusual and inspiring journey.

Believe in your dreams

In the bustling streets of Phnom Penh, 27-year-old Vanny cycles five kilometers every day, backpack on his shoulders and smile on his face, to attend a school unlike any other: Cambodia's only film school, run by Pour un Sourire d'Enfant (PSE).

Yet nothing predestined him to pursue his studies—let alone in film. Born into a very poor family of six, Vanny had to drop out of school to help his family. His future seemed limited.

Today, everything has changed. He studies lighting, sound, and filming techniques and participates in numerous collaborative projects with his teachers and classmates. Among his most memorable experiences is I Am Worthy, a short film co-produced with students from Lyon, which boosted his confidence and team spirit.

Perseverance and creativity

Passionate about cinema, Vanny draws inspiration from the works of Cambodian and international directors. He cites First They Killed My Father, a film he admires for its sincere and powerful portrayal of Cambodian history. Les Pépites, the documentary about PSE, also plays an important role in his career, reminding him every day why he chose this path.

Vanny particularly admires Rithy Panh, one of the great names in Cambodian cinema, for his commitment to preserving the country's memory through his films.

Today, he is preparing his resume and portfolio to apply for an internship. His dream is to become a director, perhaps even in France. His journey is a testament to his perseverance, creativity, and quiet confidence: the conviction that, through hard work and quality professional training, he will one day be able to bring his stories to screens around the world.

PSE Film School: a springboard to a professional future

For nearly 30 years, Pour un Sourire d'Enfant has been helping Cambodia's poorest children and young people escape poverty and find employment. The film school, the only one in the country, offers comprehensive vocational training to young people from very disadvantaged backgrounds, who are often confronted with violence or school dropout.

Students learn all aspects of filmmaking: cinematography, lighting, sound, editing, and production. Some have even participated in major film productions such as:

  • Angelina Jolie's First They Killed My Father, recounting the horrors of the Khmer Rouge regime,

  • Onoda, 10,000 Nights in the Jungle, selected for the Cannes Film Festival,

  • and White Building, presented at the Venice Film Festival.

These are real professional opportunities that are contributing to the growth of Cambodian cinema today!

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The essential support of the François Bel Foundation

Since 2020, the François Bel Foundation (supported by the Institut de France), which perpetuates the memory of the French director who devoted his work to showing nature in its primitive, essential beauty, as a call for respect and protection of everything around us, has been a key partner of the PSE audiovisual school in Phnom Penh.

Also known as the “film school,” the only one of its kind in Cambodia, its three-year programs have enabled 369 students to be trained between 2021 and 2025, thanks to the invaluable support of the François Bel Foundation.