A first-generation Cambodian American and elite cyclist takes to his bike with the hope of reshaping his identity as a husband, father and son of Cambodian refugees.
Our Team
Kyle Jonas - Co-Director, Camera, Audio, Color
Kyle Jonas has a Master of Arts in Communication Studies and a Master in Theological Studies. His previous work focused on peace and reconciliation studies in Palestine and Rwanda before he became a filmmaker. His education and field work have shaped skills in rhetoric, intercultural communication, empathetic listening, writing, and ethical storytelling. He also taught English in Phnom Penh, Cambodia in 2008 and 2012. He lives in Nashville with his wife, Kaitlin, and two sons, Jimbo and Hutch, and has many hobbies which include gardening, writing, and woodworking.
Ben Saunders - Co-Director, Camera, Drone, Edit
Ben Saunders grew up with deep respect and appreciation for immigrant populations. His mother played a critical role as a social worker who spent her career specifically helping Cambodian refugees settle in his hometown of Richmond, Virginia. He earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Filmmaking from Virginia Commonwealth University and a Master of Divinity from Vanderbilt University. In both spaces, he focused his studies on understanding systems of power and oppression, which helped form his process-minded, feminist, and anti-racist orientation. Prior to Chasing Cambodia, he co-directed multiple award-winning documentary films, including a feature on the Public Broadcasting Service in Virginia. He’s an avid home-pizza chef and proud cat-dad to Ginny.
Joey Schihl - Producer
Joey Schihl has a background in real estate brokerage operations, business development, property management and both commercial and residential sales. Earlier in life he attended film school at VCU where he studied under acclaimed independent filmmaker Sonali Gulati. He retired his camera equipment for a career in real estate, but always held that he would return to his first passion as a producer. Early in 2021 the opportunity came up to work with long time friend and film school partner Ben Saunders and his production company, Adelicia Co to tell the story of a Richmond-born Cambodian American who had recently been added to the Cambodian National Cycling Team. Ben and Joey previously co-directed a documentary which was featured on PBS in 2011.
Johnny Phan - Subject
Johnny was born in Richmond, Va to Cambodian refugee parents who came to the US in 1979. He was the first in his family to earn a Bachelor's degree from Virginia Commonwealth University’s School of Business. During his time at VCU, he found a love for cycling that eventually led him to compete professionally for the Cambodian Cycling Federation in the 2021 Southeast Asian Games hosted in Hanoi, Vietnam. Currently, he is working as a realtor, guiding his clients through the sale and purchase of residential real estate in the greater Richmond area. Besides riding his bike and sometimes his skateboard, Johnny loves spending time with his wife Maddy, 2yr old son Julian and his pitbull mix Nala.