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The First

The First Witness, known as THE FIRST, is a short documentary film narrated by Ho Van Tay who was invited by Pol Pot and leng Sary to tour select Cambodian sites during the reign of the Khmer Rouge. Ho Van Tay had the opportunity to tour the infamous Khmer Rouge prison S-21, on 10 January 1979, where he witnessed the aftermath of the horrors that were perpetrated there. The film also references Cambodia’s first archivist, Yin Nean, who at some personal risk embarked on an effort to locate and preserve the official archives of the Khmer Rouge regime for the benefit future generations of Cambodians.

  • makara ouch
    Director
  • makara ouch
    Producer
  • Ho Van Tay
    Key Cast
    "Ho Van Tay"
  • Yin Nean
    Key Cast
    "Yin Nean"
  • Try Socheeata
    Editor
    Editor
  • Keo Theasrun
    Camera Operator
    Camera Operator
  • San Bunsim
    Camera Operator
    Camera Operator
  • Long Dany
    Researcher
    Researcher
  • Ngov Chi-hor
    Association Researchers
  • Sem Paroda
    Association Researchers
  • Long Monivan
    Association Researchers
  • Try Socheata
    Association Researchers
  • Youk Chhang
    Executive Producer
  • Project Type:
    Documentary
  • Runtime:
    22 minutes 14 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    April 7, 2019
  • Production Budget:
    7,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Cambodia
  • Country of Filming:
    Cambodia, Viet Nam
  • Language:
    Central Khmer, Vietnamese
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Chaktomuk Short Film Festival
    Phnom Penh
    Cambodia
Director Biography - makara ouch

Makara OUCH is a Cambodian Filmmaker/Photographer.

He worked for the Khmer Mekong Films from 2006-2013. He made his own film with his colleagues entitled “Beautiful Heart”, production of which was completed in 2012. The feature was screened at that year’s Cambodia International Film Festival and received critical acclaim. He subsequently directed other short films, such as “ A Senior’s Love” and “KOH KER: The Lost Wonder” in 2013. Makara joined the Documentation Center of Cambodia (DC-Cam) as Film Director and Producer since late 2013. At DC-Cam, He has produced and directed several documentary films, such as “Anlong Veng”, “The Kingdom of Memory”, “Hope for the Future”, “Integrity”, “The Long Road to Education”; and a social spot “Sidewalk”, commissioned by Blue Media Cambodia and Phnom Penh City Hall. Most recently, he directed and produced a series of documentaries entitled “Village History”, "Pol Pot Home", and Genocide Education in Cambodia for DC-Cam which is screened Cambodian high schools.

Makara was selected to be a photographer to photograph His Majesty Norodom Sihamoni, the King of Cambodia and the Queen Mother Norodom Monineath Sihanouk and all the Royal family for a book “ The Royal House of Cambodia”.

Makara completed his film training in South Korea, Thailand and Japan in the FilmLeader Incubator (FLY) Program and completed a regional AFS USASEAN film workshop of YSEALI program in Loung Prabang in 2017. Makara was awarded one of the 12 fellowships in a global competition sponsored by the University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts to study film in the “American Film Showcase” program in 2018.

Makara also was awarded THE ROYAL ORDER OF CAMBODIA – THIPADEN from His Majesty King Norodom Sihamoni, the King of Cambodia in 2017.

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