Silver, Rock back Khmer Rouge drama

Singapore-based media fund and distribution outfit Silver Media Group has partnered with Cambodia’s The Rock Production to launch global distribution on Cambodia-Singapore co-production Before the Fall.

The deal was facilitated by the recently established Southeast Asian Audio-Visual Association.

Directed by Ian White, the English-language noir thriller is set during the 1975 fall of Phnom Penh to the Khmer Rouge. A beautiful singer is trying to escape from the capital when a former French lover manages to find her and forbidden passion leads to a treacherous web of political, financial and romantic intrigue. 

Currently in pre-production, the film is set to start shooting in July. SAAVA described it as “the first commercial Khmer-led feature production created for international distribution”.

Executive producer Oknha Kith Theing of The Rock Production said: “I’m very happy to embark on this project together with our regional partners. This is a particularly exciting time for Cambodian films. Our film industry has a great tradition and I hope with Before the Fall, we’ll continue building towards a robust and sustainable future.”