Cambodia Burning Film Wins Earth Photo Award

Cambodia Burning [4K] កម្ពុជាកំពុងឆេះ from Sean Gallagher on Vimeo.

I am delighted to share the news that my film Cambodia Burning has won the Short Film Award in this year’s Earth Photo Competition, hosted by the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) and Forestry England. I am pleased that this award will bring even more attention to the plight of Cambodia’s forests and those brave local conservationists and citizens trying to save what is left of the country’s biodiversity. — You can watch the film for free below.

“This year’s Earth Photo competition received a record-breaking number of entries. Out of over 2,600 submissions, 54 photographs and videos by 35 artists were selected – making Earth Photo 2020 an exhibition of the very best environmental photography has to offer.” — Earth Photo Awards

About Cambodia Burning: Using a unique mix of drone cinematography and Cambodian poetry, Sean Gallagher’s latest film explores the changes in Cambodia’s landscapes, brought about by deforestation and forest fires, and the emotional impact it has had on Cambodian people. Deforestation has been accelerating across Cambodia and it is estimated that there is only 3% of primary forest left throughout the country. In 2018, fires burnt in record numbers throughout the forests of north and central Cambodia. At their peak during the dry season between January and March, it is estimated up to 1,800 fires were burning in the country, more than in any other country throughout South East Asia at that time. The main drivers behind deforestation in Cambodia are conversion of forest lands for agricultural use and targeted logging of valuable species, such as Rosewood, for the Asian furniture markets.