Location Directory

Cambodia Location Directory for Film, TV & Commercial Production

CAMBODIA

The Kingdom of Cinematic Locations

Five Strategic Filming Clusters Across Cambodia

Cambodia Film Location Ranking :

Province Shoot Potential Index

Tier A : ‘Poster Provinces’

Siem Reap (Angkor Wat - temple world; Tonle Sap Lake)
Phnom Penh (urban energy, rivers, street life, modern Cambodia)
Kampot / Kep (river town & colonial textures, pepper, coast vibe)
Preah Sihanouk (coast & islands, beach stories)
Koh Kong / Pursat (Cardamoms rainforest, waterfalls, rivers, eco-adventure)
Ratanakiri (wild northeast, volcanic lake feel, indigenous culture textures)
Kratie (Mekong river life & Irrawaddy dolphins = rare, cinematic)
Battambang (heritage town & countryside, ‘authentic Cambodia’ look)
Preah Vihear (temple drama & epic landscapes; big ‘adventure' energy)

Tier B : Strong Supporting Provinces

Kampong Thom (pre-Angkor ruins like Sambor Prei Kuk vibe, forest temples)
Takeo (ancient roots, rural elegance, waterways)
Kandal (river/rice villages right near the capital = very crew-friendly)
Kampong Cham / Tboung Khmum (Mekong, rubber plantations, rural stories)
Svay Rieng / Prey Veng (flatland Cambodia, rice/road/market life)
Pursat / Kampong Chhnang (Tonle Sap edge, floating village energy, pottery/crafts)
Stung Treng / Mondulkiri edges (remote river + nature scale)

Primary Production Bases
Where You Base Crew & Gear

Phnom Penh
(Capital City)

Main crew pool, equipment rentals, services, plus the NEW Techo International Airport now serving Phnom Penh city (opened in 2025).

Siem Reap

Tourism infrastructure & Insane location density. New Siem Reap - Angkor International Airport opened 16 Oct 2023, ~1 to1.5 hours from township / Angkor zone.

South Coast
(Kampot / Sihanoukville)

Beach, jungle, colonial, islands in one compact circuit.

Primary Production Bases
Cambodia’s Key Production Cities (Map View)

Cambodia In A Nutshell

Quick facts:

Language & Communication

Main language: Khmer (official national language).
Also spoken: Cambodia has many minority and indigenous languages across provinces.
English: In Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, English is commonly used in hotels, restaurants, tourist services, and many production-facing businesses - but outside major towns, English drops off, so local fixers and interpreters help a lot.
English ‘proficiency’ globally: Cambodia ranks low on the EF English Proficiency Index (useful as a reality check, not a deal-breaker).

Weather through the year (what producers / crews should know)

Cambodia is tropical monsoon – think heat, humidity, and big skies.

Dry season: roughly Nov to Apr - clearer skies, easier company moves, dust can be a factor.
Rainy season: roughly mid-May to Oct - heavy showers, greener landscapes, dramatic clouds; plan for wet roads and weather cover.
Temperatures (Phnom Penh as a reference):
Hottest: around April (average highs ~35°C / 95°F).
‘Cooler’ months: roughly late year into Jan (still warm; highs commonly high-20s to low-30s °C depending on region).
A practical planning range many travelers use: ~24°C to ~35°C across the year.

Why Cambodia makes an awesome filming country:-

Cinematic variety in a compact country: ancient temples, French-colonial streets, modern city textures, rice fields, jungles, rivers, and islands - you can get multiple ‘worlds’ without cross-continent travel.
Light & Atmosphere: golden-hour warmth, misty mornings in greener months, and big monsoon skies when you want drama.
People: Cambodians are widely known by visitors for being warm, welcoming, and helpful - great energy for working with local communities (especially when approached respectfully).
Growing Access: Cambodia has been upgrading its air gateways, including newer major airports around Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, which supports smoother international arrivals and tourism flow.

Cambodia’s Best Time to Shoot

Month	Season vibe	What it looks/feels like	Production reality	Best for (suggestions)	Shoot rating
January	Dry + ‘cooler’	Clear skies, lower humidity	Smooth logistics, long exterior days	City, temples, travel shows	★★★★★
February	Dry + ‘cooler’	Sunny, stable	Very dependable schedules	Anything multi-location	★★★★★
March	Dry + warming	Brighter/harsh sun, heat rising	Hydration & earlier call times help	Commercials, city & temples	★★★ ★
April	Dry + hottest	Intense heat, strong contrast light	Tough on crew; but good for shooting schedules	‘Sun-baked’ look, gritty heat vibe	★★ ★
May	Start of wet	Greener, humidity jumps	Showers begin; still manageable	Nature & countryside (early green)	★★ ★
June	Wet season	Lush landscapes, moody skies	Rain cover needed; plan flex. time	Jungle, rice fields, doc vibes	★★★
July	Wet season	Very green, dramatic clouds	Rain disruptions more common	Nature-heavy visuals, atmosphere	★★
August	Wet peak-ish	Super lush, big storms	Higher delay risk; roads can be messy - esp. rural areas	Rain scenes, monsoon mood	★★
September	Wet peak	Maximum green, maximum rain risk	Schedule volatility; protect gear	Water, jungle, stormy cinematic look	★★
October	Transition (sweet spot)	Still green but easing rain	Great balance: looks amazing & improving logistics	‘Post-rain Cambodia’ beauty	★★★★
November	Dry season starts strong	Cleaner skies, comfortable	Reliable for tight schedules	TVCs, tourism, multi-locs	★★★★★
December	Prime dry season	Bright, pleasant, stable	One of the easiest months to run crews	Everything (especially travel)	★★★★★