PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA — [DATE] — As global conflicts and societal divisions dominate headlines, the 15th Chaktomuk Short Film Festival (CSFF) is partnering with the United Religions Initiative (URI) to demonstrate the unifying power of cinema. Among the 90 films screening in Phnom Penh this year, CSFF has curated a special selection of six international short films dedicated to exploring faith, mental health, non-violence, and peacebuilding. These films invite audiences to step across cultural divides and reflect on the shared human desire for harmony and healing.
Exploring Faith & Understanding: 1 title.
Jumah (China)
World Cinema Competition, 16:14 min
Directed and written by LIU QING LIN and YE HAN LING; produced by CHENG ZHENG XIN and WU SHU XIAN .
Xingyue, a nineteen-year-old born into a devout Muslim family in a central Chinese city, struggles with her identity and the strict religious definitions of sin. In an act of rebellion, she decides to get a tattoo, stealing money from her family to do so. However, just as she is about to go through with it, her grandmother suddenly passes away on Jumu'ah—the sacred day of communal prayer. As she participates in the ritual purification and burial, her grief gives way to a quiet reconciliation. Jumah provides a deeply intimate, humanizing window into the Islamic faith, showcasing how traditional religious rituals can foster profound healing, empathy, and intergenerational connection.
The Pro-Peace (Conflict & Healing): 2 titles.
Actually, I didn't want to stay long (Germany)
World Cinema Competition, 20:00 min
Directed and written by Andreas Grützner ; produced by Andreas Grützner .
This film traces the evolution of how society treats its most vulnerable, comparing psychiatric institutions from the 1970s to the present day. Through the eyes of a young man who starts working at an institution in the 70s, the narrative unfolds into a deep reflection as he is confronted with a traumatic discovery in his own family's biography. By examining the history of psychiatric care, this film champions empathy, mental health advocacy, and the necessity of confronting painful histories to achieve institutional and personal peace.
Ballad of Fishes and Birds (Colombia, Spain )
World Cinema Competition, 7:34 min
Directed by Anny Uribe and Juan José Arévalo ; and written by Sofía Añón Picó ; produced by Adasat Hernández León .
Set in the aftermath of the Colombian armed conflict, Carlina and her mother live alone, holding tightly to their memories and personal objects to survive the overwhelming grief of losing their father and husband. Everything shifts with the appearance of a mystical fish, which becomes Carlina's guide through an emotional adventure toward healing. The film is a powerful look at the human cost of war, using beautiful magical realism to explore how a family survives, rebuilds, and finds peace after devastating violence.
Non-Violence: 3 titles.
Brain Space (United Kingdom)
World Cinema Competition, 8:21 min
Directed and written by Laura Tofarides ; produced by Nia Alavezos and Helen Brunsdon .
Propelled into her own mind, Rhi explores the thoughts, fears, and impulses that shape our internal world. When her inner child is threatened by the shadows of her own trauma, her fear turns to anger, and she must fight back to regain control. Navigating from desperation to acceptance, she ultimately learns to choose life. Brain Space navigates the internal psychological battleground where aggression originates, visualizing the mental fortitude required to process trauma rather than projecting it outward in violence.
Ningú Borda (Nobody Barks) (Spain)
World Cinema Competition, 19:52 min
Directed by Júlia Coldwell Serra; written byJúlia Coldwell Serra and Bertran Esteve Garcia; produced by Gerard Guilló i Bort .
Candela lives a monotonous life in a small inland town. During a festival, she accidentally runs over her nephew's dog. Instead of confessing, she invents an elaborate legend about a dog pilgrimage to a sacred tree and invites him to join her in a fake search. Slowly, the weight of her lies begins to consume her. It is a quiet exploration of the internal violence caused by deceit, demonstrating that true peace of mind requires honesty and taking responsibility for our actions.
Kickback (Russian Federation)
World Cinema Competition, 17:38 min
Directed and written by Dmitry Marin; produced by Vladislav Severtsev and Dmitry Marin .
A crime boss decides to aggressively extract his "kickback" after a deal, but fails to realize that in the ruthless criminal underworld, even something as mundane as the toilet business can go violently bust. By highlighting the destructive, cyclical, and often absurd nature of crime, greed, and retaliation, the film serves as a dark cautionary tale that reinforces the futility of engaging in violent systems.
All six films screen as part of CSFF's 50-title international selection, drawn from submissions across 33 countries, running October 30–November 2, 2026, in Phnom Penh.
Event Details
The 15th Chaktomuk Short Film Festival runs October 30–November 2, 2026, in Phnom Penh, followed by a provincial tour to Battambang, Siem Reap, and Kep through December 2026. All admissions are free of charge.
About the Chaktomuk Short Film Festival (CSFF)
Founded in 2012, CSFF is Cambodia's longest-running short film festival, organized by Sunflower Film Alliance under Sunflower Film Organization (SFO), a Cambodian non-profit organization registered with the Ministry of Interior since 13 March 2019 (notice 1394 Pr.K). The 2026 edition is CSFF's 15th.
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