China and Cambodia have taken another important step in film and cultural cooperation. Recently, at the “Salute to the Classics: Film Restoration Forum” in Suzhou, Jiangsu province, China, the China Film Archive and the Department of Cinema and Cultural Diffusion of Cambodia’s Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts formally signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Film Restoration Cooperation for 2026–2029. The two sides will undertake three years of cooperation in film restoration.
Under the agreement, the two sides will strengthen cooperation in restoring film archives, technical exchanges, professional training and joint curation, working together to protect and share valuable film materials.
The cooperation is especially significant for Cambodia. Many old films document the country’s history, social life and cultural development, but some film stock may fade or suffer damage over time. Digital restoration offers the prospect of better preserving these valuable images and bringing them back before audiences.
China’s experience in film restoration also provides a basis for this cooperation. To date, the China Film Archive has completed high-definition restoration of 2,589 films, 2K restoration of 502 films and 4K restoration of 81 films.
The two countries previously held technical exchanges on restoring old films in Fuzhou, laying the groundwork for this cooperation.
From film screenings to technical cooperation and professional training, the two sides are continuing to deepen their film and cultural exchanges. The signing also creates new opportunities for Cambodia to protect its film heritage, train film and television professionals, and bring classic films to international audiences.
