Surviving Bokator
A genocide survivor leads a team of youth on a mission to revive Cambodia's ancient martial art and win international competition. Bokator was nearly eradicated by the Khmer Rouge 40 years ago and was feared extinct.
Filmed over 5 years, this powerful award winning film is a unique look into a post-war people's efforts to reclaim traditional identity and find their place in a modern world.
Festivals
Won Best Documentary, Lonely Wolf: London International Film Festival in 2021
Won Outstanding Achievement in Directing, Documentary, Lonely Wolf: London International Film Festival in 2021
Won Documentary Feature Film, Jaipur International Film Festival in 2020
Won Documentary Feature, Milano International FICTS Fest in 2020
Won Sport & Society – Sport Values Education and Culture – Feature, Milano International FICTS Fest in 2020
Won Best Documentary, European Cinematography Awards in 2019
Won Best Cinematography of a Feature Film, Asian Cinematography Award in 2019
Won Best Feature Film, NYC Indie Film Award in 2019
Won Feature Film, Asia Pacific International Filmmaker Festival & Awards in 2018
Won Documentary Feature, IndieFEST Film Award in 2018
Services
Credits
Director: Mark Bochsler Production Company: Cineboxx Film & Television Producer: Sandra Leuba Associate Producer: Loy Te Main Actor: San Kim Sean, Darith Ung, Tharoth Sam Sound Department: Sound Designer and Re-recording Mixer: Vincent Villa Sound Editor Assistant and Mixer: Sreymoch Kim Additional Sound Editor Assistant: Thana San
Press
In Conversation with filmmaker Mark Bochsler & Bokator grandmaster Sean Kim San “Surviving Bokator” gets recognition at Milano Int’l FICTS Festival – Khmer Times ‘Surviving Bokator’ picks up honourary mention award at Milano International FICTS Festival – MMA Crossfire Documentary made available online to help Bokator clubs survive – Khmer Times Surviving Bokator’s Eng Sou Mala wins medals at South East Asian Games Surviving Bokator hosts its first Bokator training session in Germany – Berlin Kali School Surviving Bokator premieres in Berlin’s arthouse Cinema Babylon – The Battle of Preserve Cambodia’s Martial Arts Heritage – Black Belt Magazine IN PICTURES: Star of ‘Surviving Bokator’ brings the martial art to life – Long Beach Post Sam Tharoth receives award at Surviving Bokator screening at Khmer Arts Academy At 73, He’s Fighting to Revive the Martial Art You’ve Never Heard of – OZY
Festivals
Won Best Documentary at Lonely Wolf, London International Film Festival in 2021 Won Documentary Feature Film at Jaipur film festival in 2020
Quotes from Critics
“Surviving Bokator is crucial and strategic in bringing back hope that the Cambodian people can and will survive, as will the Bokator art.” Sopheak Kheng, President, Cambodian Coordinating Council “One of the most compelling docs we have screened this year” Sunny Huang, Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival “One of the must-watch documentaries of the year” Carl Broughton, FilmEra Review