Help fund the feature length documentary “ Girls of Doris Dillon”
by award-winning documentary filmmaker Sarah Betcher of Farthest North Films
www.farthestnorthfilms.com
GIRLS OF DORIS DILLON - Proof of Concept - Year 1.
Click this link to watch the Proof of Concept short film: https://youtu.be/Jqh01bsH8AI
Film description
Genocide destroys a society in days; rebuilding it takes generations. Fifty years after the Khmer Rouge decimated Cambodia’s educated class, the long work of structural and emotional recovery carries on. Shifting the cinematic focus from tragedy to transformation, this documentary follows the lives of extraordinary young women rising through Doris Dillon Middle School. Beyond the classroom, their journeys reveal how education disrupts poverty and sparks healing across families and villages.
Produced in direct partnership with its subjects, placing school alumni in vital roles as co-directors and crew, the film serves as a living bridge to Cambodia’s future through the eyes and voices of the young women. GIRLS OF DORIS DILLON Proof of Concept video showcases interviews and footage of the first production trip of 4 consecutive production years planned with students and alumni of the Doris Dillon School in Cambodia.
How to donate:
If you were moved by watching the promotional video and want to donate to help Sarah and her Cambodian women's team create a feature-length documentary exploring how education impacts the lives of females in rural Cambodia,
fill out the form below
and click the “Donate” button.
Bios
Director, Videographer and Editor: Sarah Betcher
Sarah Betcher, the award-winning founder of Farthest North Films and Wisdom Keeper Media, brings 14 years of documentary filmmaking experience and a deep commitment to cross-cultural storytelling to her role as director. Holding a Master’s in Cross-Cultural Studies with a focus on ethnographic film, Sarah has produced over 90 films, including three feature documentaries highlighting Indigenous traditions, resilience, and local knowledge. Her work, guided by a collaborative, community-based approach, has earned accolades including a Greenpeace documentary award, an Audience Choice Award, and films showcased in 8 museums, including the British Museum and the American Museum of Natural History, as well as Hawaiian Airlines Aircraft.
Throughout her career, Sarah has specialized in building bridges between local Indigenous people and broader global audiences through authentic, collaborative filmmaking. Her extensive experience leading advisory-guided, culturally sensitive projects around the world translates directly into her director role in Cambodia. By pairing her proven expertise in documentary filmmaking with deep respect for local heritage, Sarah leads the production team with a clear vision to honor and amplify the genuine stories of the Doris Dillon School students and alumni and its surrounding community.
Co-director: Sreylin Chey
Born and raised in rural Cambodia, Sreylin Chey brings invaluable lived experience, cultural nuance, and deep community trust to the role of co-director for The Girls of Doris Dillon School. As an alumna of the Doris Dillon School who journeyed from a rural village to build a successful career as a software engineer in Phnom Penh, her personal story reflects the very resilience and transformation the documentary aims to capture. Fluent in both Khmer and English, Sreylin serves as a vital bridge between the local community and international audiences, ensuring the narrative is represented with utmost accuracy, respect, and authenticity.
In addition to her deep personal connection to the region, Sreylin contributes a robust set of technical, creative, and logistical skills to the production. Her engineering background endows her with sharp organizational oversight, enabling her to seamlessly manage local permissions, coordinate schedules, navigate environmental factors like light and weather, and facilitate clear cross-cultural communication. Passionate about elevating genuine Cambodian voices, Sreylin leverages her lifelong roots and local insights to build rapport with film participants and ensure a deeply resonant, high-impact storytelling process.
Project Manager: Sokna Chhin
With 17 years of dedicated experience supporting the Doris Dillon School, bilingual Project Manager Sokna Chhin brings unmatched institutional knowledge, operational expertise, and deep local relationships to the documentary team. Holding a degree in International Relations from Paññāsāstra University of Cambodia and a proven track record managing large-scale infrastructure, NGO, and community initiatives, Sokna excels at bridging international production goals with on-the-ground execution. Fluent in both Khmer and English, she serve as an essential operational liaison among film crew members, school staff, local suppliers, and community stakeholders.
Sokna Chhin’s extensive background in complex logistics, contractor sourcing, financial recordkeeping, and cross-cultural communication ensures seamless project execution throughout every phase of production. Having spent nearly two decades navigating logistics across Phnom Penh and rural communities, Sokna brings specialized expertise in managing multi-stakeholder scheduling, site permissions, budget tracking, and real-time problem-solving. Her long-standing connection to the Doris Dillon School community fosters immediate trust and transparency, providing the foundational stability needed to keep the production running efficiently, respectfully, and on schedule.
