PHNOM PENH – The French Embassy in Phnom Penh will hold a series of events next month to mark the anniversary of the fall of the capital fifty years ago.

As the Khmer Rouge took control on April 17, 1975, hundreds sought refuge at the embassy. More than 500 French nationals and about a hundred others from 20 countries sheltered there along with an estimated 600 Cambodians.

For over two weeks, the compound became the setting for a tragic standoff that ultimately saw the forced departure of the Cambodians, followed by the evacuation of foreign nationals to Thailand in two convoys, on April 30 and May 6, 1975.

To pay tribute to the victims and preserve the memory of these events, the embassy is organizing a cycle of commemorations from May 6 to August 22 including an exhibition, a memorial event and a film program.

“This initiative aims to pass on the memory to new generations and to reaffirm France’s commitment to a relationship with Cambodia based on remembrance, dialogue, and trust.”

The exhibition “Facing the Khmer Rouge – The French Embassy during the Fall of Phnom Penh (April 17 – May 8, 1975)” will be on display at the French Institute from May 6 to August 22.

The exhibition will present a detailed account of the tragic events of the time, with testimonies, previously unseen documents from the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, photographs and videos, it said. It will be free and open to the public.

On May 7, a public discussion will be held at the French Institute with anthropologist and writer Francois Bizot and photojournalist Roland Neveu, both eyewitnesses to the fall of Phnom Penh.

The embassy will hold a memorial ceremony on May 8 to honor those who found refuge within its walls, as well as all victims of the events with the presence of survivors, witnesses, civil society representatives, Cambodian authorities and members of the diplomatic community.

As part of the commemoration, from May 10, the French Institute of Cambodia, in partnership with the Bophana Center, will screen about a dozen films and documentaries dedicated to Cambodia’s history under the Khmer Rouge.

Works by both renowned Cambodian and international directors — including Rithy Panh, Davy Chou, Denis Do, Angelina Jolie, Arthur Dong and Bora Chhay — will be featured.

The embassy said the program explores themes of personal and collective memory, regime violence and the challenges of remembrance and resilience.