Cinema in Cambodia began in the 1950s, and many films were being screened in theaters throughout the country by the 1960s, which are regarded as the "golden age". After a near-disappearance during the Khmer Rouge regime, competition from video and television has meant that the Cambodian film industry is a small one.
Bun Rany is the spouse of the former prime minister of Cambodia Hun Sen. She also served as the vice president of the National Association of the Cambodian Red Cross and, since 1998, as its president. She has received national and international recognition and numerous awards for her work and endeavor with Cambodia's orphans and poor, HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention, and her emphasis on women's issues with efforts to improve domestic safety and empowerment through education and vocational training. Her full honorary title is Samdech Kittipritbandit Bun Rany Hun Sen.
Dy Saveth is a Cambodian actress and first Miss Cambodia (1959) often referred to as the "actress of tears". She is "one of the most beloved actresses from the 1960s era of Cambodian film".
The Snake King's Child is a 2001 Cambodian-Thai horror film directed by Fai Sam Ang, based on a Cambodian myth about the half-human daughter of a snake god. It was produced as a sequel to the 1970 movie The Snake King's Wife. It is the first full-length feature film for cinema to be produced in Cambodia since before the Khmer Rouge era. The special effect of the lead character's head being full of writhing snakes was achieved by gluing live snakes to a cap worn by the actress.
The Forest is a 2005 Cambodian monster thriller film directed by Heng Tola, the director of Khmer Blockbuster films, such as Gratefulness and Neang Neath. It was nominated for many awards in The Khmer national film festival but won for best special effects.
Tep Rindaro is a Cambodian actor and singer. He started acting in 1987. With his career spanning more over 30 years, he is one of the longest starring actors in Cambodia since the fall of the Khmer Rouge in 1979.
The Snake Man, also known as The Snake King's Wife is a 1970 Cambodian drama horror film based on a Cambodian myth about a snake goddess, starring the most well-known Khmer actress of the era, Dy Saveth and Chea Yuthorn, who became popular in Thailand after the film's release. The film was directed by Chinese Cambodian director Tea Lim Koun who experienced unprecedented success as a result of the film and is known today as one of the fathers of Khmer Cinema.
The Snake King's Wife Part 2 is a 1973 Cambodian-Thai horror film directed by Tea Lim Koun. It is a sequel to the 1970 film The Snake King's Wife. The plot is the continuation from the prequel.
The Snake King's Grandchild is a 2006 Cambodian Romance horror film, a sequel to a 2001 film, The Snake King's Child. It is a successful and award-winning in the khmer national film festival where it received 4 awards including best actress.
Crocodile Man is a widely acclaimed Cambodian horror film released in 1972 by Hui Keung. It starred Khmer actress Dy Saveth and singer Pen Ran, two iconic figures of Cambodian culture of the time. It was released in Thailand and Hong Kong along with another 1972 Khmer film, The Snake King's Wife, which brought back a successful grossing. It has become one of the more enduring creations from the nation's pre-communist era and copies are still sold today with English and Chinese subtitles.
Horror films in Cambodia, first popular in the 1970s, have received renewed attention in Cambodian film making since the resurgence of the local industry in 2003. Horror is one of three popular genres into which most Cambodian films can be loosely grouped, the other two being period pieces and melodrama/romantic drama. The fledgling Cambodian industry of the mid 2000s looked to capitalize on the world-wide popularity of Japanese horror films which have heavily influenced Cambodian horror films. Common themes are ghost or spirit hauntings, possession, folk mythology and revenge by supernatural means. The storytelling takes a slower pace than Western horror and relies on suspense, a pervasive sense of doom and dread, and psychologically disturbing events and situations. Unlike its Japanese counterparts however, many Cambodian horror films also feature over the top gore as seen in Western horror.
Saksi Sbong is a Cambodian actress who mainly played the role of villains in Cambodian pre-Khmer Rouge films.
Ampor Tevi is a Cambodian actress active in 1990s. Within the span of her career she has starred in numerous films, from movies to musical skits. Her career started in 1988 with her paired actor Sam Vityea. After Sam Vityea died that year, Ampor Tevi was often paired with fellow actor, also famous at the time, Tep Rindaro.
This is an incomplete, chronological list of films produced in the Khmer language in the 2000s.
Danh Monica is a Cambodian-born actress, dancer and entrepreneur based in Australia. Classically trained in Cambodian ballet and opera, Monica started her career as a child actor, starring in The Snake King's Child (2001). She was one of the first television soap opera stars in Cambodia.
Pechaya Wattanamontree, who goes by the nickname Min, is a Thai model and actress.
Mao Samnang as known as Rabbit "ទន្សាយ" is a Cambodian author who has written stories for films such as The Weird Villa, The Snake King's Child and The Haunted House. She is considered to be one of the country's most popular authors.
Sarita Reth is a Cambodian actress, model, television host and beauty pageant titleholder. She is Khmer origin who was crowned Miss Universe Cambodia 2020. She represented Cambodia in Miss Universe 2020. As an actress, she is known for her role as Marima from Love9, a TV program that tackles sexual and reproductive health.
Setha Sirachaya was a prominent Thai television host, actor, film and television producer and director, and former lead singer of the band The Impossibles. He also served as the president of the Senior Actors Welfare Foundation, contributing significantly to the welfare and support of senior actors in Thailand.
