Kanika has a recurring dream where Buddha visits her, reminding her there is kamnop, treasure, waiting for her. When she was sixteen, she was forced to evacuate her childhood home in Cambodia. Before fleeing, she remembers her dad burying valuable jewels from monarchs somewhere on the property.

Recently, her daughter Kanitha discovered that this house is still standing. Concerned by her mother’s fading energy, she sets out to convince her to return to Cambodia in search of her long-lost treasure. The house has been occupied for the past 50 years by a mysterious man, and risks being razed as foreign developers usurp land in this prime location in the capital.

This dynamic pair of unlikely treasure hunters embark on the journey of a lifetime from Colorado to Cambodia to search for the kamnop. Kanitha and Kanika search not only for hidden jewels but also something much deeper about themselves, their relationship with one another, and their family’s past.

KANIKA, THE DREAMER

Kanika’s power rests in her dreams. They warn her of potential dangers, connect her with the dead, or reveal life-changing events & mysterious hidden treasures. She left Cambodia at sixteen, fleeing the Khmer Rouge genocide. Now at seventy and in fragile health, she has the chance to return home and find the kamnop that she saw in her dreams. This may be the last opportunity to unbury the past and feel alive again.

KANITHA, THE SEEKER

Born in the US, Kanitha has always been obsessed with her family’s past. For nearly twenty years, she has been writing and rewriting her memoir. Kanitha recently discovered their old family home is still standing. Fueled by the stories of hidden treasures her mother had always told her, Kanitha persuades her to return to Cambodia to claim this kamnop. It’s a risky move. The trip could end in disappointment. Yet, it could also be her last chance to help her mother reconnect with her spiritual roots and break the cycle of generational trauma.

Think: Wes Anderson meets Indiana Jones. Now imagine: The Mole Agent meets the Act of Killing.

In the world of Kamnop, mystery, historical memory, killing fields, intergenerational trauma, and displacement intertwine with Buddha, prophetic dreams, beauty salons, ghosts, and dragons. It’s a wild, funny, and deeply sensitive story designed for a global audience—one interested in urgent contemporary issues, while also longing for warmth, laughter, and hope.

We're almost there! Kamnop has reached the final interview stages with major documentary funds — including France's public funding body CNC, Sundance Catalyst, and Catapult Film Fund — but we need a final push before unlocking support from these major industry orgs. The consistent feedback has been clear: the story is outstanding, and now it needs a proof of concept. Funders want to see Kanitha and Kanika on camera in Cambodia, how they'll navigate the unexpected, and whether the current resident of the family home will open his door.

Funds raised through this campaign will directly support a critical stage of our project, reflected on our project timeline above.

Fundraising Goals

The more we raise, the farther we go—together!

Our base goal is $15,000, but we have two stretch goals that take us all the way to the editing phase.

• $15,000 – The Cambodia Expedition: Gets our directors and subjects to Cambodia, covers our trusty tuk-tuk driver, participant care, and on-set meals.
• $25,000 – The Colorado Shoot: Adds our Colorado crew, legal fees, and equipment rentals.
• $40,000 – Kickstart Edit for New Scenes + Teaser: Helps us edit new scenes and produce a high-quality teaser and trailer to secure funding from industry organizations.

Your support does two things: it gets us on the ground filming, and it signals to major funders that our community believes in this story. Several organizations are ready to back us — but first, they need to see us move.

Examples of where your dollars will go:

• $25 - One grant application fee, keeping our funding pipeline moving
• $100 - Keeps our Cambodian fixer on the ground
• $750 - Transportation in Colorado
• $1,000 - A home base in Phnom Penh for a week
• $4,800 - Fly the directors + main subjects to Cambodia

Want your donation to be tax-deductible? Head to our fiscal sponsor's (Denver Film) website instead of donating here.

Not sure yet?

See Andye, the Rock & Roll shaman who appears in the teaser, throw a card. Does she confirm the existence of the treasure?

Interested in investing or partnership with KAMNOP as a brand?

Reach out directly at [email protected]