Enjoy Six Special Documentary Screenings at Ikigai Arts Centre

Ikigai Arts Center, an art shop, training facility, and performance space located on Phnom Penh’s trendy St. 240, is hosting a series of film screenings on alternating Thursdays beginning September 1st.

It is the first major event being put on by the centre’s new coordinator, Arthur Godard, who was formerly the head of cultural programming at the historic French Academy in Rome.

Six unique documentaries to suit your tastes

The six films are all documentaries about various topics in Asia, specifically about societal, religious, and cultural changes happening on the continent. Godard said that he knows most people would think that screening documentaries in an arthouse seems strange, but he believes it makes a strong statement about the nature of art. The six films were chosen not just based on their informational content, but by their aesthetic and artistic innovation.

“True art has to be a bit mysterious” said Godard, “It is a language you can somewhat understand, but still has mystery.”

“Children of the Mist” director to visit Phnom Penh

While many film screenings in Phnom Penh take place, many of them use pirated copies of the films, Godard wants it to be very clear that Ikigai is paying the artists for their work. “It is absurd to promote culture but not sustain the people who make it.” He said.

The films will cover a wide variety of topics, starting with a film about Tibetan midwives and ending with a film about traditional bridal kidnappings among Vietnam’s indigenous Hmong people. The award winning Vietnamese director of “Children of the Mist” is expected to spend a week in Phnom Penh in conjunction with her film.

Entry to the films will cost $5. However there will be a discount for Cambodian art students.

The first film, Metok, will screen on Thursday September 1st at 18:30.