PHNOM PENH, July 20 (Xinhuanet) -- Cambodia is to hold its first film festival in 15 years, local media reported on Wednesday.

    The film festival featuring recent Cambodian films will take place from Nov. 28 to Dec. 2, khim Sarith, secretary of state of Ministry of Culture, announced Tuesday.

    "The aim of the film festival is to promote Cambodia's film industry to a new high level through exchanges and learning from each other," he said.

    Cambodia's films produced in 2004 and 2005 and with more than 90-minute long will be eligible for the first festival since 1990. Ministry of Culture Undersecretary Som Sokun said that 53 Cambodian films were made last year and 32 so far this year, despite lack of film or acting schools.

    "The number of productions is increasing but the quality is lacking," he was quoted by The Cambodia Daily as saying.

    Cambodia's film-making had its heyday in the 1960s and early 1970s, led by the prolific productions of former King Norodom Sihanouk, who produced, directed, wrote, acted, and scored 28 films.

    Films again sputtered into production in the late 1980s but their dismal quality and competition from cheap imported movies saw them peter out. Cambodia's film revival started in 2000 and has developed gradually since then. Enditem