THE TEAM

KANICA SUY a writer and an entrepreneur of Cambodian Chinese descent, was born on the Khao I Dang refugee camp. Kanica is the Founder of Cultivate Entertainment, where she manages a diverse roster of talent spanning acting, writing, producing, and directing. She has guided clients to major roles with top-tier networks such as Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime, Apple TV+, Hulu, and major broadcast networks. A passionate mentor and advocate for giving back, Kanica is an alumna and board member of Inner-City Filmmakers, where she helps guide the next generation of storytellers. 

CHANDY SUM is a Cambodian filmmaker, producer, and social qualitative research consultant whose work bridges storytelling, empathy, and social impact. Born to parents who survived the Khmer Rouge, she grew up in a family still carrying the echoes of war, loss, and domestic struggle — experiences that shaped her sensitivity toward human resilience and injustice. 

At ten years old, Chandy developed her fascination with film when she went to watch social education short films produced by the Women’s Media Centre on their old black-and-white TV. Those stories — portraying families facing hardship and change — moved her deeply and revealed how film could awaken empathy and inspire transformation. From that moment, she knew she wanted to dedicate her life to creating stories that heal and empower. Chandy holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Mass Media from the Paññāsāstra University of Cambodia and completed the International Film Business Producing Program at the Busan Asian Film School (AFiS) in South Korea (2019–2020). Initially drawn to fiction filmmaking, she later turned toward documentary and impact storytelling, realizing that real stories offered a stronger way to reach people’s hearts and drive social change. In 2020, she founded JUMRUM, a creative production house rooted in listening, storytelling, and inspiration. Her work focuses on human-centered narratives that celebrate resilience, community, and hope. Her directing credits includeTHE BLIND andTHE KEY, while as producer she has led projects such asMY VILLAGE (Ministry of Environment),THE COURAGEOUS (IOM),EMPOWER WOMEN MIGRANT WORKERS (Women’s World Banking),CAMBODIA MINE FREE 2025(Geneva screening), andTHE CANCER (Manulife Cambodia). In parallel, Chandy has worked as a social qualitative research consultant since 2018, collaborating with Women’s World Banking, Plan International, SPTF, VISA Foundation, and MFO. Her research practice strengthens her storytelling, keeping her closely connected to peoples lived experiences and the evolving social landscape of Cambodia. Chandy’s vision is to merge art and truth — to tell stories that not only inform but also inspire reflection, compassion, and change. Through JUMRUM, she continues to build bridges between cinema and social consciousness, helping audiences see the extraordinary within the everyday.

CAYLEE SO is the Co-Founder/ Director of the Cambodian Town Film Festival in Long Beach, CA. She was born in a refugee camp in Thailand on September 17, 1981, just after her parent’s escape from the reign of Pol Pot’s Khmer Rouge regime in Cambodia. When she was just three years old, her family immigrated to the United States.In 2000, soon after her high school graduation, Caylee joined the US armed forces and served in the Virginia Army National Guard for the next eight years.In between tour of duty, Caylee attended Northern Virginia Community College where she discovered her love of writing fiction. She later transferred to George Mason University to pursue a degree in creative writing. Creative writing led to theatre, and theatre led to film. In 2012 Caylee received her MFA in Film Production at Dodge College of Film and Media Arts, having won the Best Picture and Best Director at her school’s Cecil Awards that year. She is also the winner of the Director’s Guild of America’s 18th annual Best Female Student Director award. She is the co-founder of the Cambodia Town Film Festival, a recipient of the Linda Mabelot’s New Directors/New Visions Award and the 32nd annual Los Angeles County "Women of the Year" Award.Her critically acclaimed films include Testigo Ilegal, Paulina, and Rupture and In the Life of Music, a film that represented Cambodia in the country's 2018 Oscar submission. Her most film is "The Harvest," a Hmong American family drama produced by Chiyou Entertainment.

LUNA ZHANG is an independent producer and business development executive specializing in finance, strategic partnerships, and sales and distribution. She works across feature films, shorts, and animation, with a focus on meaningful storytelling, women’s empowerment, and diverse representation. She executive produced and financed a short film that was selected for competition at the Cannes Film Festival 2026. In a previous year, she also served as a panelist for the World Woman Foundation, speaking on gender equity in the entertainment industry.

Back in 2023, she partnered with a veteran film finance executive to support independent filmmakers, and has since executive produced projects with budgets exceeding $100 million. Luna holds an MBA from the University of Southern California and certificates in her extended study at Harvard University.

HIM THIDETH is a Cambodian cinematographer with nearly a decade of professional experience in the film and media industry. Born on 19 December 1992 in Beoung Thum Village, Ang Snoul District, Kandal Province, he developed a strong passion for visual storytelling early in life. After pursuing studies in English Literature and Media and Communication at the Royal University of Phnom Penh, he earned his degree in Cinematography from the Im Kwon Taek College of Film and Performing Arts at Dongseo University in 2016. 

Since graduating, Thideth has collaborated with a wide range of local and international directors, building a reputation for his technical expertise, creative vision, and reliability on set. His deep understanding of directing styles, client needs, media formats, and filming technologies allows him to execute production plans efficiently while consistently delivering high-quality visual results. 

​

His portfolio spans feature films, web series, short films, music videos, social campaigns, and commercial productions across major industries including telecommunications, banking, and beverages. Notable projects include the feature film series Neat Love Story I, II, III (2023–2024) and The Last Tag (2019), demonstrating his versatility across genres such as drama, horror, action, and comedy. 

​

With a growing professional network and strong relationships within film crews, Him Thideth continues to bring stories to life through compelling cinematography while contributing to the advancement of Cambodia’s visual media landscape.

SIFINY MEUN's career began as an Assistant Producer in SokSan Family TV series under BBC Media Action, before transitioning into a Content Producer for various digital series. Her roles involve content creation and managing creative material, including visual storytelling, branding, and communication that resonate with the project values. ​

​

In 2025, she explored feature film audio post-production as an Audio Post-Coordinator at Kongchak Studio. Her role involves project management with planning schedules, handling communication with various creative film departments, and ensuring deliverables meet deadlines. 

CHANDARA SO is a member of the New Asian Producer Network (NAPNET), a Fellow and Graduate of the Busan Asian Film School in 2017, a co-founder and general secretary of the Cambodian International Film Festival (CIFF). Chandara is a film producer and line producer for various international film and TV show projects. 

He started his career at the Cambodia Film Commission (CFC) where he served as Senior Film Commissioner from 2010 to 2016. Through his work at the CFC, he became involved in hundreds of international films, movies, TV and reality shows, short films, and documentaries.

He currently develops and produces documentary and fiction films, such as In the Shade by Visal Sok (2016), winner of the Best Pitching Award at Link of Cine Asia at the Busan International Film Festival in 2017. In 2018, he traveled to the United States to produce Double Jeopardy, a participatory documentary film by Phally Ngoeum that tells the story of a Cambodian American deportee living in the United States. 

Chandara holds dual M.B.A.s in Entrepreneurship and Project Management from Lyon II in France and a B.A. in French Literature from the Royal University of Phnom Penh.