Cambodia Day Magazine 2023 | ISSUE 02

2023

Martial Arts CULTURE . COMMUNITY

NOVEMBER 2023 | ISSUE 02

FILM . FOOD . MUSIC . DRUMS

Giant Panda MANAGEMENT ESTHER CHUI-CHAO NICOLE CHAO THYE JULIE S. P. CHAO ANDREA CHAO-KHARMA

GENERAL PARTNERS GIANT PANDA MANAGEMENT

Cambodia Day | Issue 02

AWFF CAMBODIA DAY PROGRAM Friday, November 17, 2023 6:00pm RED CARPET EXPERIENCE 6:00 - 7:30pm RECEPTION, INCLUDING: KHMER FOOD, CASH BAR, KHMER VENDORS, SILENT AUCTION, ANGEL HOUSES, SHADOW PUPPETS, ART EXHIBIT, PINPEAT ORCHESTRA, AND MORE… 6:00pm ChaiYam Drum Group 7:30pm PACIFIC VISIONS THEATER U.S. and Cambodian National Anthems City Officials & Community Honorees 7:45pm live: BOKATOR DEMONSTRATION 8:00pm - 9:30pm SCREENING OF THE MARK BOCHSLER DOCUMENTARY FILM: SURVIVING BOKATOR (97 MIN DURATION) 9:30pm - 10pm CLOSE: SILENT AUCTION PICK UP, FINAL VENDOR SALES…

សូមអរគុណ SOM oRKUN!!

Cambodia Day | Issue 02

INTERNATIONAL

HAD

PHOUNG O W N E R ,

C H E F

&

P I T M A S T E R

BATTAMBONG

BBQ

Cambodia Day | Issue 02

Chad Phuong was born in Battambong, Cambodia. He came to the U.S. as a refugee and was raised in Long Beach for over 43 years. He is a local chef and pitmaster who runs Battambong BBQ pop ups at the local farmer’s market and local breweries, having cultivated relationships with community garden leaders, community organizers, and the Cambodian American community.

A pitmaster and humanitarian, Chef Chad does annual philanthropy work to help raise funds for the YMCA Youth Institute, YMCA Community Development Center, United Cambodian Community, Long Beach Poly High School, and more. He was awarded the API Small Business Leadership Award in Downtown Los Angeles.

Chef Chad spent five formative years in Hereford, Texas working at a beef processing plant in Fiona, Texas. That was the beginning of his destiny as a future pitmaster. Famous for his traditional Texas style smoked bbq with a Cambodian flair, the “Cambodian Cowboy” has gone viral with his signature meats, having been featured locally in the Long Beach Post, Long Beach Local News, LA Times, OC Weekly, Spectrum News, KTLA, KNBC, and nationally on Inside Edition and CBS Morning News.

Whether collaborating locally with Chef Beeline of Chinito’s Tacos, playing himself on an Amazon Prime television series, or being considered as a contestant for Netflix’s BBQ Showdown, Chef Chad always leverages his celebrity status to represent Cambodian food and culture nationwide, a proud KHMERICAN indeed!

MENU

Chad Phuong “THE CAMBODIAN COWBOY”

APPETIZER Battambong Brisket Sliders Smoked Battambong Brisket Smoked Ribeye Skewers Smoke Pork Belly Kaw

MAIN COURSE Kampot Pepper Garlic Shrimp Smoked Rack of Lamb with Anchovy Sauce Steam Amok with Jasmin Rice

DESSERT Sweet Rice with Taro Mango with Sweet Rice

Cambodia Day | Issue 02

Welcome to

Asian World Film Festival Cambodia Day 2023!

Ladies and Gentlemen, On behalf of the Asian World Film Festival (AWFF), we welcome you to the 2nd Annual Cambodia Day Red Carpet, celebrating culture, community, and Khmer Martial Arts! On this wet autumn evening, we highlight Bokator, Cambodia’s ancient martial art, and its inclusion as a recognized UNESCO World Heritage Cultural Intangible. We are thrilled that you could join us at the magnificent Aquarium of the Pacific, located in the heart of Long Beach, California.

This special night of culture will feature a traditional Khmer pinpeat orchestra, a curated exhibit of community artwork, a fine-dining culinary experience by a Cambodian Pitmaster, and multiple demonstrations by Cambodian-American Bokator practitioners. Following suit: a screening of the award winning documentary SURVIVING BOKATOR. Joining us tonight is the film’s Producer Sandra Leuba, whose husband is Director Mark Bochsler. Filmed over ten years, the documentary presents a deep dive into the erasure of Bokator and its subsequent revival, providing a true view into our past and future, while capturing all aspects of our uniquely beautiful culture. The story explores the journey of a genocide survivor’s dream to reintroduce the ancient martial art on a national and international scale.

The AWFF Cambodia Day Committee is pleased to highlight legends of Khmer Martial Arts: Bokator Master Prach Kenya and Kun Khmer Master Oum Ry. Practitioners since childhood who teach, educate, and pass on our rich culture and identity to the next generation, we celebrate those who have given to our communities for decades. Thank you for choosing to spend this evening with us. សូមអរគុណ and ENJOY!!

Warm Regards,

Olary Yim Chair, AWFF Cambodia Day.2023 Advisory Board Member, Asian World Film Festival

Chanwantha Sam Limon Co-Chair, AWFF Cambodia Day 2023 Board Member, Aquarium of the Pacific

PROUDLY PRESENTS

CAMBODIA DAY

What starts as a genocide survivor’s dream to revive an ancient sport becomes an inspiring mission to heal a nation. Surviving Bokator is a powerful story about reclaiming cultural identity and building bridges between generations. Filmed over five years, it tells of the struggle of an older genocide survivor to resurrect the ancient Cambodian martial art of Bokator — virtually lost during the brutal Khmer Rouge regime — and preserve it for the nation’s youth and future generations.

FILM . FOOD . MUSIC . DRUMS

Martial Arts

CULTURE . COMMUNITY

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2023 T I C K E T S

$ 1 0 0

6PM RED CARPET 7:30PM SCREENING THE AQUARIUM OF THE PACIFIC 100 AQUARIUM WAY, LONG BEACH, CA 90802

TO PURCHASE, PLS ZELLE 310.980.8880 OR EMAIL: DKHIM1@YAHOO.COM, SAMLIMON123@GMAIL.COM or TEVYSMAIL@YAHOO.COM INTERNATIONAL

ISSUE 02

WE ARE YOUR WINDOW TO ASIAN WORLD CINEMA

AWFF

ASIAN WORLD FILM FESTIVAL AWFF EXECUTIVE TEAM

GEORGES N. CHAMCHOUM

OLARY YIM

EXECUTIVE & PROGRAM DIRECTOR

ADVISORY BOARD & CAMBODIA RELATIONS

Georges N. Chamchoum is an Emmy and multiple award-winning Film

Olary Yim is a Cambodian-born Cultural Event Producer and

Director and Producer, born in Niger West Africa of Lebanese origin. He

Entrepreneur specializing in business development, global operations

was educated in France, Germany and Wales and entered the film

management, vision planning, and international strategic alliances.

industry in 1968 after graduating from the Conservatoire du Cinema

Her career began in the fashion industry with the parallel market to

Français in Paris. Georges has directed and produced over 35 features in

Japan, focusing on franchising, licensing, and private label. In 1995,

Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Canada and the USA, with many screened

Olary moved to Los Angeles, where she headed the West Coast

at various International Film Festivals and Universities. Furthermore, he is

office of Tokyo based IMTECH (Integrated Marketing Technologies),

still very involved in Film Production. Since 1982 he has organized

before before launching DÉESSE, a junior action sports clothing line

numerous film festivals, most notably as Jury Delegate for the Festival du

that encompassed a fully vertical, in-house operation of design,

Film Fantastique et de Science Fiction de Paris (France) and as the

production, sales and marketing. In 2017, Olary was part of the

Executive and Program Director of the Monaco Charity Film Festival.

production team hired by NETFLIX to produce the world premiere

Georges currently sits on the Boards of the Yakutsk International Film

screenings of Angelina Jolie's First They Killed My Father in Siem

Festival (Yakutia, Sakha Republic), the Notre Dame University International

Reap & Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Following placement of the film in a

Film Festival (Lebanon) and the Beirut International Women Film Festival

myriad of international festivals, Olary ran the North American

(Lebanon). In addition, he is Co-founder of Film Festivals Cinergy, a union

campaign to screen FTKMF in Cambodian communities across the

of film festivals around the world to promote and champion talent in film-

United States and Canada. She then produced a follow up campaign

making. In addition, in 2017, he was named one of the 100 most influential

for NETFLIX, screening FTKMF worldwide to the International

Lebanese in the world, honored in a special commemorative publication

Genocide and Genocide Scholar Communities. Olary attended

to mark the occasion, and in December 2018 he was the recipient of the

L’Université de Paris, L’Université d’Aix en Provence, and is a graduate

South Korean Ministry of Culture ”Dari Award" on behalf of the Asian World

of Wellesley College. She is thrilled a to be on the Advisory Board of

Film Festival for Bridging the Culture of Korea with the USA. Georges has

the Asian World Film Festival, and to be given the opportunity to

lived in Los Angeles for the past 32 years.

showcase the rich, cultural heritage of the Kingdom of Cambodia, as well as its neighboring ASEAN Nations.

Asian World Film Festival | Cambodia Day 2023

Meet Our Committee Members

Chanwantha Sam Limon

Tevy Kysoth

Tevy Galano

Jackie Guevarra

Remy Hou

Alix Yumi Cho

Chanwantha is a public servant with over 34 years serving the workforce of Department of Public Social Services (DPSS) and the constituents of Los Angeles County. Currently she serves as HR Chief for DPSS. Her community services include serving on the Board of Advisors and Scholarship Chair for the Los Angeles County Cambodian Employees Association (LACCEA), of which she has been a member since 1989; Board of Directors and Ambassdor for the Aquarium of the Pacific; Board of United Khmer American Coalition (UKAC); and the Cambodian Cultural Center Steering Committee.

Tevy is a lifelong advocate for children, education, and Cambodian Heritage.

She spent 35 years in the design/architectural industry.

Tevy is the CEO/Principal Designer of PAL id studio, Inc., in Fullerton, established in 2010 and is focused on higher education campuses.

She worked for Walt Disney Imagineering on The Animal Kingdom Theme Park in Florida and was a member of the original in-house designer for The Cheesecake Factory Restaurant when it launched more than 25 years ago.

Currently, Tevy is a Cambodian American Cultural Center Committee member.

As a public servant for 41 years, Tevy has served in many capacities.

She currently serves as a Program Manager for the Los Angeles County Child Support Services Department. Her community service includes serving on the Board of United Khmer American Coalition (UKAC) and Cambodian American Cultural Center. She has also served on the Advisory Board for the Cambodian Coordinating Council (CAMCC), Cambodian Culture and Art Association, and in 2017 she was a Grand Marshal for the Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade.

Jackie has worked with the County of Los Angeles for more than 25 years. She joined the Department of Auditor-Controller in 1997 and worked as an Auditor and Accountant for 21 years. In 2018, she joined the Executive Office of the Board of Supervisors as the Executive Director of the Quality and Productivity Commission.

Jackie also serves as the Chair of the Los Angeles County Management Council Education Committee. Jackie has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting from California State University, Northridge.

Remy worked in Hollywood for 3 years with celebrities like Kim Kardashian, Pharrell, Tom Cruise and many more. He ventured into Fashion in 2009, and by 2011 he was the closing Fashion Designer for Cambodia Fashion Week. In 2014, he moved back to Cambodia to be a Judge on Cambodia's Next Top Model. He was a Professor of Fashion at Raffles International School of Design, a Costume Designer for International Movies, Head of Drama Dept. for CTN and President for the Council of ASEAN Fashion Designers based in Malaysia. Remy has a Bachelor of Science in Telecommunication MGMT and a Master’s in Business.

Alix is a storyteller who believes in the power of stories to promote empathy. She creates stories through film and theatrical productions. She started her career in the finance industry and applied knowledge and experience in the theatre and film production as a producer.

She is multilingual across four languages (English, Korean, Chinese, and Japanese), which allows her to have diverse perspectives.

She feels privileged to be a part of the 2022 Cambodia Day Committee.

Tony Thy Chan

Niza-Oun Nguyen

Sophie Ung

Covering real estate throughout Los Angeles, Long Beach and the surrounding cities, Orange County, and the Inland Empire, Tony Thy Chan is a committed agent representing Buyers, Sellers, and Lessees of Residential Property. Working around the clock and going above and beyond by integrating his event coordinating and community engaging skills into his real estate business, Tony Thy Chan aims to change lives and help his clients transition into new homes. www.tonytchan.com | cell 562.212.5936

Niza is a Senior Wealth Advisor at a Wealth Management firm in Newport Beach. Previously, Niza was a Partner Advisor at AdvicePeriod, as VP of BNY Mellon Wealth Management, and worked at Canterbury Consulting and PIMCO. She is the Founder/CEO of Camb From Nothing and Youniversal Energy, and Co-Founder of Diversity Fashion World. She authored “Aspire to Bee.” Niza was crowned Mrs. Asia USA in November 2019. She has a Bachelor’s degree in International Studies– Economics from UCSD and Master’s degrees in Finance and Entrepreneurship from Pepperdine University.

Sophie grew up in Long Beach and worked in child-related research for 10 years before getting involved in her own art, writing, designing and party coordinating. She enjoys being a cub scout leader of America at Mira Catalina elementary school, raising funds for Los Angeles Children Hospital and the Peninsula Education Foundation, and is a proud supporter of the Cambodian community. She is the lead silent auction coordinator and event decor for AWFF.

Shawn Ros Shawn Ros is a Khmer National and Entrepreneur specializing in business, real estate, and agricultural development.

A strong community leader & organizer, he is passionate about humanitarian work and medical missions in Cambodia. Shawn is also a producer & partner in CATCH INTERNATIONAL, a film & event production company that specializes in Khmerrelated content.

Sophie Kien-Wherritt Danielle Khim Sophie is an avid real estate investor, passionate about higher education & personal finances. She is a retired executive with over 30-year experience in private sector.

She has an MBA from University of La Verne and BA Degrees in Finance and International Business from CSU, Fullerton. She speaks English. French, Cambodian & Vietnamese. She has served as a board and committee member on several non-profit organizations. She and her daughter, Celine, had volunteered 10 weeks in Cambodia to help medical missions & teaching English to underprivileged students.

Danielle has been in the Information Systems field for 25 plus years in the corporate world. She has hiked Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania and trekked Patagonia in Chile. She volunteers for many nonprofits in the Cambodian community (e.g., Cambodian Music Festival, Cambodian Town Film Festival, Cambodian New Year Parade, the first Cambodian TV Talk Show in Long Beach). She is a certified Hypnotist and Master of Neuro Linguistic Programming Practitioner. She is a survivor of the Cambodian Genocide.

Asian World Film Festival | Cambodia Day 2022

Meet Our Committee Members

Mary Kheng

Sayon Syprasoeuth

Soup Pha

Kaylene Men

Khanongsak Phaiboon

Born In Battambang, Cambodia, Mary came to the United States as a refugee in 1985. She attended Boston University, studying bank accounting. Mary is owner of Khmer Tbal, a Cambodian business. She is a leader of Khmer traditional Chai Yam performers. Mary 's passion for dancing and singing developed at a very young age.

She also serves as emcee, singer, and Khmer community organizer & coordinator. She loves Khmer traditional outfits and wears them to all events to show her pride to the world and to inspire the young generation. She loves teaching and promoting new singers and dancers. She loves volunteering her time and effort to make the world a better place.

Sayon is an activist, healer, and educator. He received his Bachelor’s from California State University Long Beach and Master in Fine Arts from Claremont University.

An Adjunct Instructor at Long Beach City College, a Lecturer at CSULB, and a Graphic Designer, his art focuses on post-war Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos and Southeast Asian countries. He currently works at United Cambodian Community (UCC) as a Program Manager teaching art to high school students & works to promote business development & preservation. (www.sayonart.com)

Soup is a Thai/KhmerAmerican artist working on his debut album. He released his first original Khmer single “Sneah Pit” (True love) in 2018. Since then, he has worked with Jay Chan, a Khmer American artist, Khanongsak Phaiboon, CEO, 9khanong Media on a Thai/Lao music debut and with Bermuda Triangle Entertainment Family on future films. He is the leading social media specialist for Kim Chha Hout, Cambodian Consulate. He has a TV series, “A taste of Soup,” on KhmerTV. He can also be found working with the autism population providing ABA therapy for families.

Kaylene is the founder of Khmer Bridal. Her designs and collections are a form of storytelling. Originally from Cambodia, she also escaped the war and came to the United States, where she found that life for newcomers had its struggles and challenges.

To overcome them, she turned to her identity and her cultural heritage, which provided her with a sense of purpose, spreading empathy and educating the world about her cultural past, present and future thru the platform of ever evolving fashion. She and her team are teaching by dressing up one person at a time.

Khanongsak is a Lao-Ngaw, Thai, Khmer American artist who has done numerous works as the Founder of 9khanong Media, a media company specializing in videography, photography, and music production. He loves to spend his time DJing for high profile events and is a proud member of the Bermuda Triangle Entertainment Family.

He would like to extend a special thanks to Minta Zarris of MD medical Spa and credits his mom Thongmee Chantha and his father Seda Phaiboon for encouraging him to follow his dreams.

Charvey Chhang

Jojo Sta Juana

Charvey is a Consular Fellow for the Consulate General of the Kingdom of Cambodia in Texas, facilitating trade, tourism and cultural exchanges. A proud Goldman Sachs alumni with a career at S&P Global Ratings, Charvey has a passion for creative solutions.

Her experience includes an Assistant V.P. role at Humanify Charitable Funds Strategy group, focused on helping institutional investors develop more strategic capital to expand their investment portfolios.

Jojo is a YouTuber, social media manager, model, and dancer. Her YouTube Channel has more than 52K subscribers and is still growing. Jojo helps to promote different artists by reacting to and introducing their music online. Learning about different cultures and music, she is successful in shedding light on unity and diversity. Her mission is to help bring more positivity, light, and love into this world with her loved ones.

Sanghak Kan Sanghak has more than 23 years of experience working for government, private sector, and local and international NonGovernmental Organizations such as the UNDP, the World Bank, and the International Fund for Agricultural Development in Cambodia.

Sanghak also volunteers at the Mark Twain Library, hosting and promoting many Khmer programs. Sanghak Kan is a board member of the AOC7 organization, serves on the Cambodian American Cultural Center Community Steering Committee, and is a Community Ambassador for Flourishing Families Long Beach.

Borin Saron Borin Saron is a Cambodian immigrant who graduated from High School in Lakewood, California, having studied computer science, automotive repair and smog technician.

Borin loves classic movies, music and photography and has parlayed his hobbies into a professional career used to benefit the Khmer community.

Borin volunteers to clean up streets and beaches with KYRO (Khmer Youth Reach Out) & spends much of his time at Wat Elsinore, fundraising for this community pagoda buildout.

Synopsis

What starts as a

Genocide Survivor’s dream to revive an ancient sport becomes an inspiring mission to heal a nation. Surviving Bokator is a powerful story about reclaiming cultural identity and building bridges between generations. Filmed over five years, it tells of the struggle of an older genocide survivor to resurrect the ancient Cambodian martial art of Bokator — virtually lost during the brutal Khmer Rouge regime — and preserve it for the nation’s youth and future generations.

What starts as a genocide survivor's dream to revive an ancient sport becomes an inspiring mission to heal a nation. Surviving Bokator is a powerful story about reclaiming cultural identity and building bridges between generations.

Filmed over ten years, it tells of the struggle of an older genocide survivor to resurrect the ancient Cambodian martial art of Bokator - virtually lost during the brutal Khmer Rouge regime - and preserve it for the nation's youth and future generations.

Cambodia Day | Issue 02

Surviving Bokator Producer

SANDRA LEUBA Sandra Leuba was born and raised in

The bustling film business in Toronto led to

Switzerland where she pursued her studies in

several opportunities, first as a location

banking. After a successful start in her career as

manager in some productions and later in

a financial advisor at one of the major regional

documentaries as a Resources Producer on

banks, years later, the wide world was inviting

“The Seven Lively Arts” (2010) and “The House

Leuba is also the President of the Swiss-Canadian

her to challenge new frontiers and off she went,

That Beer Built” (2010), historical films on

Chamber of Commerce of Ontario, where she is

moving to Toronto, Canada. Having to get

Toronto heritage works. As the films were

responsible for attracting new corporate members,

relicensed, she worked at a financial planning

heavily dependent on archival materials, Leuba

organizing events and providing networking

firm, and from there moved to the sales team at

was instrumental in researching, managing and

opportunities. Leuba has great dedication and passion

Manulife Investments where she was promoted

negotiating complicated terms and releases.

for anything she puts her energy into. Her financial,

several times until she was leading the internal

The most challenging project she was

organizational and management and strong leadership

sales team. Currently, Leuba works as a Director

producing was the feature documentary,

skills, combined with a natural journalistic instinct and

of Enterprise Risk Governance at the Royal Bank

“Surviving Bokator”, produced over 10 years; its

curiosity, have navigated CINEBOXX’ projects through

of Canada.

outreach still keeps Leuba engaged.

multitudes of logistical challenges.

Cambodia Day | Issue 02

THE DIRECTOR

M A R K BOCHSLER Mark Bochsler is a Canadian documentary filmmaker and cinematographer. His work is fueled by a passion to explore diverse and unique stories about the human journey, to help bring much-needed empathy in today’s fractured world.

His lengthy career as a visual storyteller has taken him from the high Canadian arctic to the jungles of Borneo and places in between.

His work has been screened worldwide, with some highlights being the Cannes Film Festival (2010, At Home By Myself... with You), and the world’s first 360degree documentary The Polar Sea (ARTE, 2014).

Bochsler’s post-secondary education is in Political Science and Broadcast Journalism, and he holds union membership in IATSE and the CMG (Canadian Media Guild), and has served as a jury member for the Canadian Screen Awards and the Jaipur International Film Festival, India’s largest.

He is based in Toronto, Canada with his producing partner and wife Sandra Leuba (Surviving Bokator), and their two young sons.

His recent feature documentary film Surviving Bokator, which chronicled over a decade the revival of an ancient Cambodian martial art, has won multiple awards internationally, including the International Olympic Committee sponsored FICTS World Champion of Sports Cinema festival in Milano in 2020. The film played an instrumental role in UNESCO’s decision to inscribe Kun L’Bokator on the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity Representative List in 2022.

DESIGN BY REMYHOU

Cambodia Day | Issue 02

DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT

41° PALADINO D’ORO – SPORT FILM FESTIVAL 2021 Accepting the Award for BEST EDITING SURVIVING BOKATOR BY MARK BOCHSLER

When we first set out in April 2010 to begin filming Surviving Bokator, it was to document a unique moment in world cultural history, the re-birth of one of the world’s oldest traditional fighting styles, Kun Bokator. The film, therefore, would serve as a national and world cultural heritage archive.

BEST EDITING SURVIVING BOKATOR BY MARK BOCHSLER

But as those early months grew into years, what began as a film project, became a journey. A journey that first brought us across Cambodia, later sent us around the world. A journey, not only into the lives and struggles of the people featured in the film, but also into the lives of those audiences impacted by it. A journey into the deepest understanding of the immense value that cultural identity holds to us all, and the extent to which we will go to preserve it.

This journey for us as filmmakers has been transformative and life-changing. It has been a tremendous honor to bring this Cambodian story to the world, and to have played a role in Kun L’Bokator’s inscription on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity Representative List.

Our very special thanks to everyone who joined us on this journey. អរគុណ​ច្រើ ន Mark & Sandra

Cambodia Day | Issue 02

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS 1. What inspired you to come up with the idea for the film?

A visit to Cambodia in April 2010, where I learned about a genocide survivor who was leading a grassroots movement to save from extinction one of the world’s oldest and most unique traditional fighting styles, Bokator. Like other Cambodian cultural traditions, Bokator was nearly annihilated during the Khmer Rouge reign of terror and social reforms in the 1970’s which saw cultural leaders, educators and artists targeted for the Killing Fields, in the regime’s fanatical efforts to ‘free’ the nation from old ways and create a new ‘utopian’ society. For more background, check your history books.

Through the Cambodian story, the journey of those that have had their traditional ways ripped from them, I realized first hand the critical value culture holds for us all. It is at the core of our personal identity and that steel thread which binds us to each other within a group, society or nation. And that sport, too, is another manifestation of culture and national identity.

2. Why did you want to tell this story?

I’m not a martial artist, nor am I a follower of combat sports, but the Bokator revival movement is a unique moment in human history, part of the larger cultural renaissance that Cambodia has been undergoing, and one that I felt compelled to capture for the national and human record.

Essentially, all the stars lined up, and for myself as a documentarian, I responded appropriately to being in the right place at the right time.

I was also inspired by the unwavering commitment that the Khmer (Cambodian) people have to preserving their proud identity. The story therefore provides a different window into a nation, that through mass media continues to be burdened with the stigmas of genocide, corruption, human rights violations, etc. Essentially, it was a chance to shine a new light on the people of the “Kingdom Of Wonder’-- a vibrant, positive and forward looking people.

3. Were there any risks that you faced during production and how did you find a way to embrace them?

Two days before we began principal photography, through a freak accident, I slashed my achilles tendon and spent the following month on crutches. As I was my own cinematographer, I had no other choice but to stay on my feet (against doctor’s strict orders) and keep filming.

Hopping along on crutches, up and down stairs, across the broken stones of Angkor Wat, my foot understandably got infected and the swelling eventually prevented me from wearing a shoe. So, my daily shooting schedule started with an hour in the local American health clinic in Phnom Penh plugged into an IV drip of antibiotics to save my foot. Years later, some of my film’s subjects admitted to me that it was because of the relentless determination I displayed in those early days that they decided to work on this film with me through whatever end it would take us.

Over the following decade of making the film and getting it to audiences, the obstacles never ceased and at times seemed insurmountable.

Yet, I kept drawing on the memory of the hardship I put my body through in those early days which delivered us such great and historically significant footage. Giving up would’ve made all that effort null and void, disrespecting the sacrifices of my earlier self.

Cambodia Day | Issue 02

4. How does Bokator differentiate from other Martial Arts?

As mentioned, I am not a martial artist and our Bokator fighters could expand on this. Bokator, labokatao means "to pound a lion". It is one of the oldest existing fighting styles, used by the ancient Khmer military, that uses close combat techniques along with the use of weapons.

Bokator uses a diverse array of elbow and knee strikes, shin kicks, submissions and ground fighting. Some of the weapons used in bokator include the bamboo staff, short sticks, sword and lotus wood stick.

Bokator supposedly has over 10,000 techniques (this number may have been embellished somewhat by Grandmaster Sean Kim San), and many are based on the movements of animals. There are styles of elephant, duck, crab, horse, bird and crocodile with each containing several techniques.

The difference is in its wide range of techniques which many other martial arts don’t have.

5. How is Bokator’s success in Cambodia?

Over the last decade, lots of success has been achieved in Cambodia with Bokator. When we started filming in 2010, most young Khmer didn’t know that Cambodia had its own unique martial art, which motivated our protagonist Sean Kim San to begin his Bokator revival journey. Since its revival, the Government approved having Bokator incorporated into the school curriculum and some schools started to teach it. The army now was trained in Bokator and at big national events, they usually have Bokator performances. In November of 2022, Grandmaster Sean Kim San’s biggest dream of having Kun L’Bokator receive international recognition was finally realized. UNESCO inscribed the martial art on its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

A few months later, with Cambodia hosting its first Southeast Asian Games since the genocide, Bokator became an official sport of the games.

6. What do you wish audiences would leave with?

To have gained a positive image of Cambodia, to spread the word about the film and that Cambodia too has its own unique martial art of Bokator.

Cambodia Day | Issue 02

PROUDLY PRESENTS

CAMBODIA DAY

FILM . FOOD . MUSIC . DRUMS

INTERNATIONAL

Martial Arts

CULTURE . COMMUNITY

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2023 T I C K E T S

$ 1 0 0

6PM RED CARPET 7:30PM SCREENING THE AQUARIUM OF THE PACIFIC 100 AQUARIUM WAY, LONG BEACH, CA 90802

TO PURCHASE, PLS ZELLE 310.980.8880 OR EMAIL: DKHIM1@YAHOO.COM, SAMLIMON123@GMAIL.COM or TEVYSMAIL@YAHOO.COM

HYPNOSMOT MAKE YOUR LIFE H E A L T H Y OUR SERVICE Send email to book your discovery call and received complementary gifts valued at $150.

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UCC ARTIST HIGHLIGHT

Trinh Mai

Created the visual art project for the United Cambodian Community

by gathering information from the community surrounding the oral history and their journey as Cambodian American. We had twelve community members that ranged from early arrivals from Cambodia in the seventies, some were refugees and the second generations that were born here in the United States. All of them had a connection to Long Beach, California. They were all asked a series of questions around their journey, family history and their goals and dreams of what they would like to see for their beloved Khmer community in the future. Each of them were video recorded and Trinh was able to also create these visual art pieces (8 x 8 inches) of them in collaboration with their interview and journey. Based on their feedback and interview, Trinh was able to interpret and incorporate images that also reflect their journey.

Cambodia Day | Issue 02

KUN

KHMER

BOKATOR

PRADAL

SEREY

BLACK STONE HANDS

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LOK KRU KENYA PRACH A Cambodian Martial Arts legend, is one of the few who teaches the traditional Khmer martial arts called Kbach Kun Boran Khmer, including Bokator. He is one of the lucky survivors of the Cambodian genocide. He came to the United States in 1982. He has been trying to pass on his martial arts skills to the next generations for the past 38 years and he has over one thousand students throughout the years in the states. His goal is to preserve Khmer culture as long as he can.

Lok Kru Kenya Prach published a book earlier this year called Black Stone Hands, in which he shares his story of survival from the brutal Cambodian genocide. He writes of a life dedicated to being the voice of innocent victims, including his sister, brother, relatives, and friends, who lost their lives during the Khmer Rouge regime. He wants to encourage people to join him in supporting human rights and the fight against human trafficking.

In 2018, the Cambodian National Olympic Committee (NOC) appointed Lok Kru Kenya Prach as the committee representative to select top-tier talent from amongst Cambodian athletes in the United States and Canada. More recently, Master Prach received recognition and appreciation from Mayors and the President of the United States.

Today, Lok Kru Kenya Prach still trains Kbach Kun Boran Khmer, Bokator, MMA, boxing and Pradal Serey in the San Francisco area. His book is a deeply personal reflection on his survival in the face of intense adversity and trauma. He hopes that Black Stone Hands will inspire and provide insight into the strength of the human spirit, and to the importance of perseverance, even in the darkest of times.

LONG BEACH KHMER KICKBOXING CENTER 223 W ANAHEIM ST, LONG BEACH, CA (562) 591 - 0533 | @LBKHMERKICKBOXING

Cambodia Day | Issue 02

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LOK KRU OUMRY LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

1. Master Oumry just published his personal biography. What was the impetus for him to write a book?

Sochada, the youngest daughter of Oumry and the author of the book, had a fortuitous encounter with the owner of a book publishing company, Carrie Paterson. Ms. Paterson offered a proposal to Sochada, that if she writes a book about her father, then she would publish it. Following over 80 hours of interviews and a return to Oum’s homeland, Sochada remained resolute in her mission. Many people had previously approached Oum with bookwriting propositions, but all fell short. Sochada was determined to preserve her father's legacy through this book and share the profound message of his life story which remained unwavering.

2. What message does Master Oumry want his reader to know about his legacy?

Oum wants the art of Pradal Serey to be spread across the globe and he wants people to know that whatever they choose to do in life; they must put their entire heart in it.

3. Why is it important for Oumry to remain in Cambodian Town?

“Long Beach is my home, this is where my community is,” Oum says. It’s not just Cambodian people who have supported Oum, but all kinds of ethnicities and backgrounds. He says that he doesn’t see himself living anywhere else because Long Beach is his “safe haven.”

Cambodia Day | Issue 02

SEREY

SAVE HIS LIFE BOKATOR GRANDMASTER CANCER TREATMENT FUNDRAISER

Let’s fight for the Grandmaster who fought for Khmer culture & identity!

STAGE 4 CANCER ALL DONATIONS ARE APPRECIATED

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Sambo Joe Kim Sambo Joe Kim was born in 1994 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

The second of four brothers, he moved to Utah State with his family at the age of 12. Sambo has always had a love for martial arts, starting his education in various martial art schools when he was 16. Since then, he practices and trains in a variety of styles including, Bokator, Kun Khmer, Wing Chun, Jeet Kune Do, Shaolin, Tai Chi, Kickboxing, Jiu-Jitsu, and MMA. In 2018, Joe started training with Master Kenya Prach, to cultivate and preserve the ancient Cambodian martial art of Bokator. Since 2023, Sambo has taught Bokator to more than a hundred Khmer and foreign students. He’s also been involved in two upcoming Hollywood projects - Power Rangers: Origins and "Black Stone Hands," as an fight choreographer and actor where he has been able to promote Bokator.

Sambo's next mission is to bring this Cambodian ancient martial art to the world and raise Bokator to a level of worldwide recognition like Muay Thai. Any chance he can, Joe promotes the sport to preserve Khmer cultural heritage and legacy of Cambodian Ancient martial arts. He encourages all Cambodians, both in their homeland and abroad, to unite and express their talents in order to preserve, protect, and promote Cambodian cultural heritage.

“I am very proud that I can be a part of preserving and protecting Bokator as well as urging all young people to come together to preserve this national treasure of Cambodia.”

Kirbbee Sok Kirbbee Sok was born in 2005 and is the third of four brothers.

Kirbbee is a practicing martial artist since the age of 7, and has trained in various styles of martial arts through the teachings of his older brother Sambo Joe Kim and Grandmaster Kenya Prach.

Kirbbee knows Boxing, Kickboxing, Jiu-Jitsu, and various styles of Chinese martial arts, but specializes in the Cambodian martial arts, Kun Khmer and Bokator. In addition to Bokator, he is also currently wrestling for his senior year of high school.

Kirbbee has been cast in the upcoming future film: “Black Stone Hands.” He trains very hard in hopes of one day becoming a Kun Khmer, Bokator champion, and an action superstar. He wants to fight not just for his passion for martial arts, but to inspire others to fight for their dreams.

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LACCEA

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CAMBODIAN AMERICAN CULTURAL CENTER

WAS OFFICIALLY FORMED IN 1989 WITH AN IDEA TO INTRODUCE CAMBODIAN CULTURE TO FELLOW COUNTY EMPLOYEES AND MANAGEMENT. WE’VE CONTINUED OUR MISSION TO SUPPORT AND PROMOTE ITS MEMBERS AND THE CAMBODIAN COMMUNITY BY PLEDGING TO CONTINUE TO LEARN THROUGH NETWORKING AND COLLABORATING WITH OTHER ASSOCIATIONS AND NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS THAT MAINTAIN CAMBODIAN IDENTITY BY PRESERVING ITS CULTURE AND TRADITION IN ADDITION TO ENRICHING THE DIVERSITY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY. LACCEA’S BOARD AND EXECUTIVE MEMBERS ARE PROUD TO SUPPORT AND CONGRATULATE CAMBODIA DAY ON THEIR TIRELESS EFFORTS TO SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY NEAR AND FAR.

CAMBODIAN AMERICAN CULTURAL CENTER

On September 2021, the Long Beach City Council approved a recommendation for the City Manager to work with community stakeholders to create a vision and feasibility plan for a Cambodian American Cultural Center. The Long Beach City Council allocated funds to support the planning and outreach efforts for the Cambodian American Cultural Center.

The first phase of the development of this Cultural Center was to establish an operating vision and feasibility plan, from which the facilities, management, and programming of a Cultural Center would be developed. In June 2022, with the support of Councilmember Suely Saro, the United Cambodian Community, City Fabrick, Lord Cultural Resources, and the City of Long Beach, the Cambodian American Cultural Center Community Steering Committee began the visioning process for a Cambodian American Cultural Center that would serve as community hub for local and regional Cambodian/Khmer arts, culture and history. This community visioning process took place through monthly meetings, subcommittee meetings, key stakeholder interviews, surveys, community roundtables and events, informational workshops, and site tours, from June 2022 through March 2023.

The Steering and Honorary Committees were made up of key stakeholders including organizational leaders and community leaders, comprising a total of 31 steering committee members and 15 honorary committee members, all of whom volunteered their own time to participate. Committee members consisted of community leaders, nonprofits, academics, and representatives of elected officials. Both teams guided the community engagement process, developed shared values, prioritized recommendations, reviewed the community data analysis, conducted community outreach, and co-facilitated small groups.