Film
Chasing Cambodia
Chasing Cambodia is a documentary about Johnny Phan, a Cambodian American cyclist from Richmond, Virginia, who is invited to race for Cambodia's national team.[1][2] It was directed by Ben Saunders and Kyle Jonas.[3]
Synopsis
Johnny grew up as a young Cambodian American who struggled with his Asian heritage and became an elite cyclist in Richmond.[3] The film follows him from weekly races at Richmond's Bryan Park to international competition in Vietnam and Cambodia.[1] In 2021 and 2022, he had the chance to join the Cambodian National Cycling Team and compete at the Southeast Asian Games, held in Vietnam in May 2022.[3] Alongside the racing, he explores his Cambodian American identity and his family roots.[3] The directors say cycling is the film's way into that search, not its main subject.[3] The film also looks at cultural representation, hybrid identities and how culture changes as it passes between generations.[3]
Production and credits
Adelicia Company made the film, and VPM presented it. Joey Schihl produced, with Steve Humble and Mason Mills as executive producers.[3] The filmmakers traveled to Vietnam and Cambodia, but much of the story takes place in Richmond.[3] The filmmakers, who are white, worked to bring Khmer influence into the film. They licensed music from a Cambodian label, and the score mixes traditional Khmer sounds with modern pop and hip-hop.[3]
A Cambodian American graphic designer worked on the title translation and fonts, which follow the traditional script styles seen throughout Cambodia.[3] Tida Tep designed the title and poster.[2] The title was translated into Khmer, and Fred Shallcrass drew custom Khmer lettering based on Moul script, a bold, rounded style seen across Cambodia.[2] The colors and layouts draw on cycling kits and race jerseys.[2]
Release
The film runs 56 minutes and 50 seconds.[4] It was an official selection of the 2025 Cambodia Town Film Festival and screened at the Art Theatre of Long Beach on September 13, 2025, followed by a question-and-answer session with the filmmakers.[3][5]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 VPM, Chasing Cambodia: Cyclist Johnny Phan's Journey of Cultural Discovery (May 23, 2025)
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Fonts In Use, Chasing Cambodia documentary
- ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 Cambodia Town Film Festival, CTFF 2025 Official Selection: Chasing Cambodia (archived)
- ↑ Cambodia Town Film Festival, Blog list
- ↑ Cambodia Town Film Festival, CTFF 2025 press release (August 7, 2025)