Silent Land, feature length documentary, 75 min.
Seng Channeang, a young Cambodian farmer, sees her farm and way of life threatened by large scale companies and land grabbers. We follow her on her hunt for security for her family, for 4 dramatic years.
His Excellency Mong Reththy, one of the richest men in the country, built an empire in agricultural production. His large scale production is possible since the Khmer Rouge eradicated all property titles.
The two meet. Seng Channeang learns, and keeps looking for the middle way. She hopes her new born baby will study law for the rights of the small scale farmers.
for site and trailer: www.silentland.org
Grand Prix Cine Eco Film Festival Seia, Portugal 2012. Best Nature and Culture Award: 2012 International Mountain Film Festival, Domzale Slovenia / Innovative Award, Envirofilm 2012, Slovakia / Water Award at CinemaVerde Film and Arts Festival Gainesville, Florida / Special Mention at Festival delle Terre, Rome / Survival International Award, IX Human Rights Film Festival Barcelona - Paris - New York
"With breathtaking images of nature, Golden Calf winner Jan van den Berg emphasizes both the beauty and vulnerability of our world." Movies that Matter festival, The Netherlands
ECOZINE Festival, Spain: Best Short Film
Short Shorts Film Festival in Japan:
Stop Global Warming Award and
J-Wave Audience Award
Planet in Focus, Toronto: First Prize
HRAFF Australia: Best International Film
FIFFEL, Zwitserland: Best Film
Global Environment Film Festival Japan:
Children Earth Vision Award
Slow Food Film Festival, Italy: Golden Snail
Green Film Fest, South-Korea: First Prize
Nominations and Honorable Mentions:
INKAFESTIVAL, Peru
HR Film Festival, Argentina
CMS VATAVARAN, India
"A tale so intimate and suspenseful that is has the feel of a novel."
Anne-Marie O'Connor, LA Times.
Other reviews: Cambodian Daily, The Power of Culture.
Dutch Reviews: NRC Handelsblad, Volkskrant, Het Parool, GPD.
Nominated for a Dutch Academy Award
The jury: "A fascinating film about a fascinating subject."
Dutch Reviews: Trouw, Volkskrant
Golden key in Lorquin (France), bronze dragon in Krakow (Poland), two awards in Oberhausen's int. short film festival in Germany and two nominations for a golden calf at the Dutch Film Festival
European Video Dance Award, Paris
Award for Silent Land op het EcoZine Int Film Festival. De Jury: Het verhaal blijft spannend tot het eind. We zien de tegenstanders in dit drama elk hun eigen verhaal vertellen en de film laat het aan de kijker te oordelen.