Sophoan Sorn is a Cambodia-born, American multi-faceted artist, film festival programmer, cultural entrepreneur, and independent cultural arts consultant.

He is the Creator of the San Joaquin Film Society, home of the San Joaquin International Film Festival (SJIFF) and the year-round World Cinema Series.

Recently, Sophoan was appointed by the Goethe-Institut in San Francisco as the new Director of the 15th Annual Berlin & Beyond Film Festival - America's premier festival of new cinema from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland - to be presented at the historic Castro Theatre this October 22nd through 28th, 2010.

A miracle child, he was born in 1985, two weeks after his mother’s water broke, in a refugee camp on the border of Cambodia. He arrived in the United States of America in 1991 with his family. He began classical and contemporary piano studies at age 11. An honor graduate of Lodi Seventh-day Adventist Academy Class of 2003, he has been studying at San Joaquin Delta College and the Academy of Art University in San Francisco, focusing on Film.

Since 2001, he has been proactive in the valley's art scene - working in documentary filmmaking and photography, performing as a contemporary and classical pianist, programming cultural arts events, and volunteering for local and international non-profit organizations. He serves on various community boards and projects, and contributes his talent diversely to arts, cultural, educational, health, humanitarian and religious institutions.

In 2007, he began the creation of the San Joaquin International Film Festival (SJIFF). In 2008, to help raise the cultural and international profile of San Joaquin, and to nurture the arts through diverse programs - he founded the Festival’s year-round, parent organization, the San Joaquin Film Society. In 2009, he kicked-off the new organization with an exuberantly vibrant and illustriously diverse, including: the World Cinema Series of unique mini-festivals focusing on particular nations or cultures; and the San Joaquin Children's Film Festival. This elevated the Film Society into a benchmark film organization in California's 400-mile Central Valley.

From February 19-27, 2010, the 3rd San Joaquin International Film Festival was presented in Stockton and Modesto, California. Through his leadership, the San Joaquin Film Society receives support and collaboration from: local and regional arts, cultural and educational organizations; and international artists and institutions in 40 countries. Sophoan's collaborative spirit, innovative leadership and steadfast advocacy built an unprecedented and growing film culture for the San Joaquin region.

For October 2010, the Stockton Arts Commission announced that Sophoan will be honored with their inaugural Comet Award at their 33rd Annual Gala, for his "inspiring, enthusiastic, and innovative promotion of the arts in the community in a relatively short term, but one we feel will be long lasting in effect."

Sophoan's hobbies include traveling, writing literature, running, gardening, performing the piano, and spending time with family and friends.

The journey continues...