As a Khmer artist myself in the US who recognizes how creativity and the arts serves as a vessel of memory as well as the reformation of cultural identity, this feature film is and will for sure serve to progress Cambodia's cultural and artistic renaissance as it embodies the soul of current-day Cambodia by being made by young Khmer talent.

Help bring *Skinny Fish*—Cambodia's first entirely Cambodian-made animated feature—to the world. In Phare Ponleu Selpak's 40th anniversary year (2026), your donation directly supports:

• Production of the film by Phare Creative Studio artists
• Scholarships for young Khmer artists training on the project
• Preservation of authentic Cambodian storytelling for global audiences

This is more than a film—it's the next chapter in Phare's 40-year mission to rebuild Cambodia's creative soul.

**What is Skinny Fish?**

Set against the stark beauty of rural Cambodia and the grim underbelly of South East Asia's fishing industry, our story follows Rithy, a gifted young swimmer lured from his village with promises of work and wages to support his ailing mother.

Instead, he's trapped in a system of deception and exploitation, stripped of his name and reduced to "Skinny Fish"—a valuable but disposable asset. Guided only by his mother's river stone amulet and an unbroken promise to return, Rithy's journey becomes a testament to survival, dignity, and the quiet courage it takes to reclaim one's humanity in a world that treats the vulnerable as currency.

The film is an extension of Phare's enduring legacy. It honors real stories woven into the fabric of our community, refusing to let them fade. There is a haunting resonance between the script and reality: the narrative unknowingly paralleled the life of a Phare artist who survived forced labor on a fishing boat. This connection underscores the film's authenticity. Produced by the students and alumni of Phare Creative Studio, the project treats animation as a vessel for memory. Every frame honors our past. Every character carries a story of Khmer resilience.

2026 will mark 40 years since the inception of art classes at Site 2 refugee camp—the origin point of Phare's journey. This anniversary celebrates decades of creativity defining a nation's recovery. Producing *Skinny Fish* during this milestone year transforms the film into a symbolic capstone of that history. We have completed the concept art, initial designs, and a proof-of-concept teaser, and are well underway with our preproduction phase. Now, we seek partners dedicated to the arts to help us create the feature. Support the production of a film that ensures these stories endure.

**→ Learn more**: [skinnyfishfilm.com](https://skinnyfishfilm.com)   |   [pharestudio.org](https://pharestudio.org) 

Cambodia's 1st Animated Feature | Phare's 40th Year

Cambodian non-profit arts school supporting youth through artistic & educational programs

Phare Ponleu Selpak is a Cambodian non-profit arts school located in Battambang, offering support to children, youth and the surrounding communities through artistic, educational and social support programmes.

Phare Phare Ponleu Selpak was founded more than a quarter of a century ago, by nine Cambodians, who grew up in a refugee camp after surviving the genocide of the Khmer Rouge, and their French arts teacher. Resilience and hope has been in Phare’s DNA from the very beginning, and from a simple arts school it blossomed into the multi-faceted creative hub it is today.

Phare educates and trains thousands of children and youth who come from challenging backgrounds. Most receive a mainstream education which helps them thrive as adults, but others become artists, performers and musicians who keep Cambodia’s creative culture alive after its almost total destruction by the Khmer Rouge. We offer them social support, education and arts programs so they can build their future and support their families through creative careers.

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