As Cambodia crawls out of its movie-making infancy and starts to produce content outside the country's borders, it's chosen to do so with the mindset of appealing to a more Western audience than what would initially be expected. Graced with spectacular visuals, a highly engaging technical skillset belying its brief existence, and a wholly unexpected mindset that's quite immersive into the experience, co-writer/directors Sokyou Chea and Inrasothythep Neth provide one of the more impressive and outwardly enjoyable introductions to Cambodian genre cinema with their newest effort “Tenement” screening at the International Film Festival Rotterdam.
Tenement is screening at International Film Festival Rotterdam
Following her mother's death, Soriya (Thanet Thorn), a Japanese-Cambodian manga artist, decides to travel to Cambodia along with her boyfriend Daichi (Yoshihiko Hosoda), to find out more about the country her mother fled. Soriya reunites with her lost family Aunt Mao (Sveng Socheata) and moves into the...
Tenement is screening at International Film Festival Rotterdam
Following her mother's death, Soriya (Thanet Thorn), a Japanese-Cambodian manga artist, decides to travel to Cambodia along with her boyfriend Daichi (Yoshihiko Hosoda), to find out more about the country her mother fled. Soriya reunites with her lost family Aunt Mao (Sveng Socheata) and moves into the...
- 2/1/2024
- by Don Anelli
- AsianMoviePulse
A book of dreams, teenagers searching for buried treasure and a quest to digitally manufacture spiritual enlightenment constitute the intriguing ingredients of “Karmalink,” a fresh and highly entertaining sci-fi mystery-adventure set in a near-future Phnom Penh. Driven by Buddhist concepts of karma and rebirth, and underscored by commentary on Cambodia’s past, present and potential future, this striking feature debut by U.S. filmmaker Jake Wachtel takes viewers on a fascinating and frequently wondrous expedition to a place where science and metaphysics intersect.
“Karmalink” should enjoy a strong festival run and broad VOD distribution following its world premiere at Venice Critics’ Week. It has theatrical potential, especially in regional markets with substantial Buddhist populations. U.S. and Cambodian release details are yet to be announced.
Phnom Penh might not seem like the obvious setting for science-fiction, but it proves to be an ideal backdrop for a tale that anchors its...
“Karmalink” should enjoy a strong festival run and broad VOD distribution following its world premiere at Venice Critics’ Week. It has theatrical potential, especially in regional markets with substantial Buddhist populations. U.S. and Cambodian release details are yet to be announced.
Phnom Penh might not seem like the obvious setting for science-fiction, but it proves to be an ideal backdrop for a tale that anchors its...
- 9/2/2021
- by Richard Kuipers
- Variety Film + TV
Reincarnation, artificial consciousness and augmented reality intersect in U.S. director Jake Wachtel’s Cambodia-set “Karmalink,” for which Variety can reveal the first trailer.
The sci-fi mystery will have its world premiere as the opening film of the Venice Film Festival’s Critics’ Week on Sept. 1.
Set in a near-future Phnom Penh, “Karmalink” is about a 13-year-old boy and his street-smart female friend who team up to search for a gold statue from the boy’s past lives, while traveling across town and also back in time.
But what begins as a hunt for a Buddhist treasure soon leads to greater discoveries in the digital realm that could be either enlightening or obliterating.
Wachtel, who grew up in Palo Alto, started developing the film in 2015, while teaching filmmaking in Phnom Penh. He cast two former students as his leads and shot the film on location after living in their community for several years.
The sci-fi mystery will have its world premiere as the opening film of the Venice Film Festival’s Critics’ Week on Sept. 1.
Set in a near-future Phnom Penh, “Karmalink” is about a 13-year-old boy and his street-smart female friend who team up to search for a gold statue from the boy’s past lives, while traveling across town and also back in time.
But what begins as a hunt for a Buddhist treasure soon leads to greater discoveries in the digital realm that could be either enlightening or obliterating.
Wachtel, who grew up in Palo Alto, started developing the film in 2015, while teaching filmmaking in Phnom Penh. He cast two former students as his leads and shot the film on location after living in their community for several years.
- 8/20/2021
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
Jake Wachtel’s debut feature deals with artificial consciousness and reincarnation.
Cambodia-us sci-fi Karmalink, the debut feature of director Jake Wachtel, will be the opening night film for the autonomous Critics’ Week section at Venice International Film Festival (September 1-11).
The film is written by Wachtel and Christopher Seán Larsen; it is produced by US first-time feature producer Valerie Steinberg for Valerie Steinberg Productions, whose previous credits include Sundance shorts Hair Wolf and Blocks, and Tribeca short Coffee Shop Names.
LevelK is handling world sales on the film, with XYZ Films handling North America.
Set in the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh in the near-future,...
Cambodia-us sci-fi Karmalink, the debut feature of director Jake Wachtel, will be the opening night film for the autonomous Critics’ Week section at Venice International Film Festival (September 1-11).
The film is written by Wachtel and Christopher Seán Larsen; it is produced by US first-time feature producer Valerie Steinberg for Valerie Steinberg Productions, whose previous credits include Sundance shorts Hair Wolf and Blocks, and Tribeca short Coffee Shop Names.
LevelK is handling world sales on the film, with XYZ Films handling North America.
Set in the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh in the near-future,...
- 7/22/2021
- by Ben Dalton
- ScreenDaily
Jake Wachtel makes feature directorial debut on “Buddhist sci-fi mystery”.
XYZ Films and LevelK are joining forces for the first time to work on Cambodian sci-fi feature Karmalink. LevelK will handle international sales while XYZ represents North American rights.
Jake Wachtel makes his feature directorial debut on the film, described as a “Buddhist sci-fi mystery”. The story follows a 13-year-old boy and his detective friend searching for a gold statue from the boy’s past lives, while navigating a high-tech, near-future Cambodia.
Los Angeles-based Valerie Steinberg produces for Valerie Steinberg Productions. Co-producers are Cambodian director-producer Sok Visal of 802 Films, as...
XYZ Films and LevelK are joining forces for the first time to work on Cambodian sci-fi feature Karmalink. LevelK will handle international sales while XYZ represents North American rights.
Jake Wachtel makes his feature directorial debut on the film, described as a “Buddhist sci-fi mystery”. The story follows a 13-year-old boy and his detective friend searching for a gold statue from the boy’s past lives, while navigating a high-tech, near-future Cambodia.
Los Angeles-based Valerie Steinberg produces for Valerie Steinberg Productions. Co-producers are Cambodian director-producer Sok Visal of 802 Films, as...
- 6/3/2021
- by Wendy Mitchell
- ScreenDaily
“Something bad is happening in this house.”
In many ways, working in the film business can be paradoxical, but often quite frustrating experience. As one walks into any movie theater the omnipresence of the superhero, romantic comedy and Disney-figures signifies the kind of cultural globalization of our world. Indeed, the global village has its movie theaters, and it often feels as if they play the same film no matter which part one lives in. Of course, no one will complain too much as a bit of familiarity goes a long way, especially in a foreign country. But at the same time, there will perhaps also be a sense of something missing here, something which is unique for the part of the global village one has chosen to visit.
Naturally, competing with the economic capabilities of Hollywood will always be a losing game. Nevertheless, in many parts of the world,...
In many ways, working in the film business can be paradoxical, but often quite frustrating experience. As one walks into any movie theater the omnipresence of the superhero, romantic comedy and Disney-figures signifies the kind of cultural globalization of our world. Indeed, the global village has its movie theaters, and it often feels as if they play the same film no matter which part one lives in. Of course, no one will complain too much as a bit of familiarity goes a long way, especially in a foreign country. But at the same time, there will perhaps also be a sense of something missing here, something which is unique for the part of the global village one has chosen to visit.
Naturally, competing with the economic capabilities of Hollywood will always be a losing game. Nevertheless, in many parts of the world,...
- 10/3/2018
- by Rouven Linnarz
- AsianMoviePulse
"An unambiguous triumph." Netflix has debuted a second trailer for Angelina Jolie's latest film First They Killed My Father, which is already playing in cinemas and on Netflix now. They're hoping to drum up extra buzz and bring attention to this film, even though it's already available on Netflix. The full title for the film is First They Killed My Father: A Daughter of Cambodia Remembers, based on the book written by Loung Ung, who also co-wrote the script with Jolie. It tells the story of the deadly Khmer Rouge regime in Cambodia, which was the corrupt Communist Party that lead the Cambodian genocide. The authentic cast includes Sareum Srey Moch, Phoeung Kompheak, and Sveng Socheata. The film received some rave reviews out of the Telluride Film Festival, and it looks like a very powerful, historic drama. It's worth a look. Here's the second trailer (+ poster) for Angelina Jolie...
- 9/25/2017
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
"Her eyes never forget." Netflix has unveiled the powerful first official trailer for Angelina Jolie's new film, titled First They Killed My Father, which will premiere at the Toronto Film Festival just before it hits theaters/Netflix. The full-length title for the film is First They Killed My Father: A Daughter of Cambodia Remembers, based on the book written by Loung Ung, who also co-wrote the script with Jolie. The film tells the story of the deadly Khmer Rouge regime in Cambodia, which was the corrupt Communist Party that lead the Cambodian genocide. The authentic cast includes Sareum Srey Moch, Phoeung Kompheak, and Sveng Socheata. It's actually very impressive that Jolie has decided to tell this story, using a local cast, and diving fully into this horrific story in Cambodia's history. Looks like it could be good. Give this a watch. Here's the first trailer (+ poster) for Angelina Jolie...
- 8/3/2017
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
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