press release
Dark Sky Films Presents
Cambodia's Official Entry For
Best International Film
At The 98th Academy Awards
TENEMENT
Directed By Inrasothythep Neth & Sokyou Chea and starring Thanet Thorn, Yoshihiko Hosoda, Sveng Socheata
In Theaters and on VOD October 24th
"Graced with spectacular visuals, a highly engaging technical skillset..." -Asian Movie Pulse
"In a bold and captivating debut..." - Khemer Times
SYNOPSIS:
Following the death of her mother, a Japanese-Cambodian manga artist decides to travel to Cambodia along with her boyfriend, in a quest to find out more about the country her mother fled. She reunites with lost family and moves into the apartment where her mother used to live. As she tries to find out more about her past, she’s confronted to strange events within the building that hint at something darker going on with the residents. What first appears as over-caring considerations from the community towards the new comers soon turns out to be part of a ritual. The residents are preparing a new host for the building’s evil spirit, before it starts killing them once again.
ABOUT THE DIRECTORS:
Thep is a Cambodian filmmaker who has worked as a director on various music videos, TV commercials, web series, and short films since 2015. His first short film, THE DINNER,earned him Best Cinematography and Best Short Film awards at the 6th Chaktomuk Short Film Festival in 2017. Two years later, the premiere of his second short film, BEFORE THE RAIN, earned him the Audience Choice Award and Best Short Film at the 8th Chaktomuk Short Film Festival in 2019. His short film (Before the Rain) went on to premiere at the 4th Busan Art Film Festival (South Korea), the 3rd Asia Peace Film Festival (Pakistan), 2020 Tokachi International Short Festival (Japan), and 2021 SeaShorts: Cambodia Retrospect (Malaysia). This will be his first feature film as a director.
Sokyou’s first attempt at filmmaking was when she was 13, using her dad’s camcorder to remake a folktale story, turning the house into a film set. Leaving her home village in Cambodia at the age of 11, she has lived and studied in Vietnam, Singapore and UK and is fluent in 4 languages. Her debut short film ‘The Ride’ was selected into the final of TROP- FEST SEA 2015. Soon afterwards, her unique 2- hander stage play ‘The Courageous Turtle’ was so well received that it went on to tour across schools in the kingdom for 3 years, attracting repeat funding from European agencies and local corporates to extend the run. A feature film concept project ‘Soul Searching’ with her as the writer and director was privileged to win the BUCHEON AWARD 2018 at BIFAN NAFF, South Korea and went on to represent Cambodia at FLY FILM LAB 2019 in Cebu. Tenement is her first feature film as a director.
Following the death of her mother, a Japanese-Cambodian manga artist decides to travel to Cambodia along with her boyfriend, in a quest to find out more about the country her mother fled. She reunites with lost family and moves into the apartment where her mother used to live. As she tries to find out more about her past, she’s confronted to strange events within the building that hint at something darker going on with the residents. What first appears as over-caring considerations from the community towards the new comers soon turns out to be part of a ritual. The residents are preparing a new host for the building’s evil spirit, before it starts killing them once again.
ABOUT THE DIRECTORS:
Thep is a Cambodian filmmaker who has worked as a director on various music videos, TV commercials, web series, and short films since 2015. His first short film, THE DINNER,earned him Best Cinematography and Best Short Film awards at the 6th Chaktomuk Short Film Festival in 2017. Two years later, the premiere of his second short film, BEFORE THE RAIN, earned him the Audience Choice Award and Best Short Film at the 8th Chaktomuk Short Film Festival in 2019. His short film (Before the Rain) went on to premiere at the 4th Busan Art Film Festival (South Korea), the 3rd Asia Peace Film Festival (Pakistan), 2020 Tokachi International Short Festival (Japan), and 2021 SeaShorts: Cambodia Retrospect (Malaysia). This will be his first feature film as a director.
Sokyou’s first attempt at filmmaking was when she was 13, using her dad’s camcorder to remake a folktale story, turning the house into a film set. Leaving her home village in Cambodia at the age of 11, she has lived and studied in Vietnam, Singapore and UK and is fluent in 4 languages. Her debut short film ‘The Ride’ was selected into the final of TROP- FEST SEA 2015. Soon afterwards, her unique 2- hander stage play ‘The Courageous Turtle’ was so well received that it went on to tour across schools in the kingdom for 3 years, attracting repeat funding from European agencies and local corporates to extend the run. A feature film concept project ‘Soul Searching’ with her as the writer and director was privileged to win the BUCHEON AWARD 2018 at BIFAN NAFF, South Korea and went on to represent Cambodia at FLY FILM LAB 2019 in Cebu. Tenement is her first feature film as a director.
TENEMENT
Release Date: 10/24/2025
Directed by: Inrasothythep Neth & Sokyou Chea
Written by: Inrasothythep Neth & Sokyou Chea
Produced by: Loy Te
Starring: Thanet Thorn, Yoshihiko Hosoda, Socheata Sveng, Mony Rous, Katsuya Maiguma
Genre: Thriller
Language: Khmer, English, Japanese
Distributor: Dark Sky Films
Run Time: 88 minutes
Release Date: 10/24/2025
Directed by: Inrasothythep Neth & Sokyou Chea
Written by: Inrasothythep Neth & Sokyou Chea
Produced by: Loy Te
Starring: Thanet Thorn, Yoshihiko Hosoda, Socheata Sveng, Mony Rous, Katsuya Maiguma
Genre: Thriller
Language: Khmer, English, Japanese
Distributor: Dark Sky Films
Run Time: 88 minutes
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