Cambodian documentary wins Cannes prize for innovative cinema
A documentary 'L'Image Manquante' (The Missing Picture) telling the story of how Cambodian filmmaker Rithy Panh's family perished under the Khmer Rouge regime won the top prize in the second most important competition at the Cannes film festival on Saturday in the category Un Certain Regard that was set up to encourage emerging and innovative filmmakers.
Panh, 49, a prolific filmmaker whose films concentrate on the brutality in Cambodia when an estimated 1.7 million people were killed during the 1975-79 Khmer Rouge regime, said the prize was important for his country.
He dedicated his triumph to Iranian Jafar Panahi, prize-winner at Cannes, Venice and Berlin film festivals. In March 2010, Panahi was arrested and convicted for anti-government activities. He is currently under house arrest, banned for 20 years from filming movies, talking to reporters or leaving the country.
The runner-up was 'Omar' by Palestinian director Hany Abu-Assad, a political thriller involving Palestinians living under Israeli occupation.
In total, 18 films premiered this year in the Un Certain Regard category.