On June 20, 2013, a discussion seminar with a special screening of A River Changes Course was co-organized by API Fellowships, the Documentation Center of Cambodia (DC-Cam), and the Master of Arts for International Development Program (MAIDS), Chulalongkorn University. The seminar was attended by approximately 100 people. The participants came from diverse backgrounds including academics, filmmakers, NGO workers, and embassy officials based in Bangkok.

The seminar was addressed by Mr. Youk Chhang, executive producer of A River Changes Course and executive director of DC-Cam. The discussion panel comprised Mr. Nick Deocampo, Director of the Center for New Cinema and API Fellow, 2001-2002 from the Philippines, and Ms. Premrudee Daorueng, Director of Towards Ecological Recovery and Regional Alliance (TERRA). The session was moderated by Dr. Jakkrit Sangkhamanee, Deputy Director of MAIDS, Chulalongkorn University.

Mr. Chhang not only helped the audience understand the content of the film and the problems facing its subjects, but also broadened their knowledge on the context and purpose of the film as well as common issues in people’s lives in the region and around the world. He also shared his experiences under the Khmer Rouge regime and highlighted the need to move on from being victims of the Khmer Rouge era. “These forums serve an essential role in affirming truth, memory, and reconciliation, but we cannot and we will not be Khmer Rouge victims for the rest of our lives. Globalization proves that Cambodia cannot dwell on its past. The conversation must move forward,” he emphasized.

Members of the audience, some of whom work on the concerns of the Mekong sub-region and other ecological issues found the event beneficial, agreeing that the region has been faced with tremendous challenges amidst rapid changes in political, economic, social and environmental spheres. Finally, the participants of the seminar reaffirmed the need to work together beyond national boundaries to solve these problems.