Masahiro Sugano Screens “Cambodian Son” in Four Different Countries

IAS faculty member Masahiro Sugano recently screened his award-winning feature documentary “Cambodian Son” in four different countries including Cambodia, Japan, Australia, and the Philippines. Sugano filmed, directed, edited, and released the documentary during his residency in Cambodia from 2012-2015. The film was awarded the “Top Documentary Prize at CAAMFEST 2014”, “The Special Jury Prize for Best Documentary at the Lebanon International Film Festival 2014”, and the “2015 Audience Award at Bali International Film Festival,” along with several other awards at internationally acclaimed film festivals.

Cambodian Son, a documentary on the journey of Kosal Khiev, a deported spoken word artist, and his inner battle while trying to find his footing with newly-earned freedom screened in Manila on July 20, 2019 at the Museum of Contemporary Art and Design (MCAD) of the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB). Sugano’s documentary was selected by curator Kiri Dalena as part of a weeklong program of full-length movies which delve into the politics of power. On July 21, 2019, the film was screened in Osaka, Japan at the Osaka East Village International Film Festival. On July 23rd, “Cambodian Son” was screened simultaneously in both Phnom Penh, Cambodia and Nagasaki, Japan to a full house audience. On Aug 10th, “Cambodian Son” was selected into the “Cambodia Focus Cinema Showcase” at Griffith Film School, Griffith University in Brisbane, Australia. Five years after it’s initial release, the documentary is still being requested for screenings around the world.