Loung Ung

Best-selling Author, Activist, Screenwriter

Loung Ung is the co-screenplay writer of First They Killed My Father, a 2017 Netflix Original Movie directed by Angelina Jolie based on her memoir, now streaming on Netflix in 190 countries.

Loung Ung was only 5 years old when the Khmer Rouge soldiers stormed into her native city of Phnom Penh. Four years later, in one of the bloodiest episodes of the 20th century, some two million Cambodians – out of a population of seven million – had died at the hands of the infamous Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge regime. Among the victims were both of Loung’s parents, two sisters, and 20 other relatives. In 1980, Loung, her older brother Meng and his wife, escaped by boat to Thailand, where they spent five months in a refugee camp before relocating to the United States in Vermont.

Loung’s bestselling memoir, First They Killed My Father: A Daughter of Cambodia Remembers is a national bestseller and has been published in fourteen countries. It won the ALAPA award for “Excellence in Adult Non-fiction Literature” and was selected by the ALA as a ‘Best Book for Young Adults’.was a 2001 recipient of the Asian/Pacific American Librarians’ Association award for Excellence in Adult Non-fiction Literature, and is widely taught and selected for community read programs in high schools and universities across the U.S. and internationally. First They Killed My Father has been translated into 15 languages, including Khmer, German, Dutch, Norwegian, Danish, French, Spanish, Italian, and Japanese. Loung’s other books include Lucky Child, and Lulu in the Sky: A Daughter of Cambodia Finds Love,
Healing and Double Happiness, both of which are widely taught in high schools and universities.
Since 1995, Loung has made over thirty trips back to Cambodia and has devoted herself to helping her native land heal from the traumas of war. She has worked as an activist to end violence against women,child soldiers, and the Campaign for a Landmine Free World, serving as its spokesperson from 1997-2005 before leaving to focus more on her writing and restaurant business. Today, Loung and her husband Mark Priemer, are co-owners in three successful restaurants and two microbreweries (www.marketgardenbrewery.com) in Cleveland, Ohio.

In 2013, Loung expanded her activism reach as one of the writers for Girl Rising, a groundbreaking documentary film directed by Academy Award nominee Richard Robbins. Girl Rising tells the stories of 9 extraordinary girls from 9 countries and their stories of forced marriage, domestic slavery, sex trafficking, and gender violence and the power of education to change their worlds. In 2015, Loung co-wrote the screenplay of First They Killed My Father with Angelina Jolie, and served as an executive producer on the film.

The World Economic Forum selected Loung as one of the “100 Global Youth Leaders of Tomorrow.” Among the publications, television and radio shows she has been featured on are; The New York Times, Washington Post, USA Today, People Magazine, CNN, Nightline, the Diane Rheme Show, Fresh Air with Terry Gross, and The Today Show. In addition, she has been the subject of documentary films for German ARTE, Japanese NHK, and the New England Cable Network (NECN).

Loung has given keynote addresses at numerous forums in the U.S. and internationally, including, National Cambodian Heritage Museum, Stanford University, Dartmouth College, Philips Academy, Taipei American School, Hong Kong American School, Facing History and Ourselves, American Library Associations, Women in the World Summit, Omega Institute for Women & Leadership, the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, Mexico 1 Million Youth Summit, Young Presidents Organization, UN Conference on Women in Beijing, UN Conference Against Racism and Discrimination in South Africa, and UN Conference on Child Soldiers Summit in Nepal.

First They Killed My Father: An eyewitness account of the Cambodian Genocide

(Themes: Cambodia, Genocide, War, Children in War, Refugees)
From 1975 to 1979, 1.7 to 2 million Cambodians, a quarter of the country’s population, died under the Khmer Rouge regime. One of seven children of a high-ranking governmental official, Loung Ung was only five when the soldiers stormed into her city, forcing Loung’s family to flee and, eventually, to disperse. Orphaned, separated from her siblings, Loung was trained as a child soldier in a work camp for orphans where she was taught to hurt and hate. Harrowing, yet hopeful, Loung’s powerful story is an unforgettable account of a family shaken and shattered, yet miraculously sustained by courage and love in the face of unspeakable brutality. From an innocent chatty girl to a silent child soldier to a bewildered refugee in America, Loung Ung shows that your past does not have to predetermine your future. Through her work, writing and activism, Loung shares how she was able to reclaim her voice, redeem herself, and help many others learn of their own stories.

FIRST THEY KILLED MY FATHER; FROM PAGE TO FILM

(Themes: Movies, Arts, Cambodia, Genocide, Trauma, Healing)
A writer writes, Loung Ung believes, hence, she was happy for her books to be books. But then, in 2015, her close friend of fifteen years, humanitarian-actor- director Angelina Jolie called to say, ‘let’s make a film together’. Thus begins Loung’s journey of learning to write a screenplay (she co-wrote the screenplay with Angelina Jolie for First They Killed My Father, now a Netflix Original movie streaming in 190 countries), make a movie (she was on set for the four month-shoot in Cambodia), and understand what an executive producer does on a film (help with whatever’s needed). Using film clips, photos, and storytelling, Loung takes the audience through her sometimes-traumatic experience and other times hilarious, inspirational, spiritual but always heart-healing- lifting journey of turning her life into film.

RESILIENCE; HOW WE CAN BOUNCE BACK FASTER AND CLIMB HIGHER TOGETHER

(Themes: Motivational, Inspirational, Overcoming Adversities, Leadership)


We know that in life, we all sometimes fall. Loung Ung confesses to having fallen many times (she tried out for her middle school cheerleading team and was not picked, all of her top college choices rejected her, and when her agent submitted her first book, First They Killed My Father, to twenty-five publishing houses, twenty-four sent back their regrets) and each time, she gets back up and never gives up. Using her personal narrative of life as a war child, a refugee, an activist and writer, Loung explores this theme and how it led to her understanding that being ‘resilient’ isn’t something one accomplishes alone. That in fact, each time we fall, there are usually caring individuals — past, present, and future—there to help us rise, bounce back faster, and climb higher in our work, life, and love.

WRITING TO CHANGE THE WORLD & HEAL YOURSELF

(Themes: A Writer’s Life, Writing, Activism, Healing, Storytelling)

As a child, Loung Ung never dreamt that she would one day become a writer. After all, English was her 4th language, which she did not learn to read, write, or speak until she was ten years old. Still, Loung loved to read and write, and dutifully recorded her thoughts and dreams in her diaries. Many years later, while working in Washington D.C., on the Campaign to Ban Landmines, she heard the news that Pol Pot, the Khmer Rouge leader had died, and in his last interview, he said that all that he did in Cambodia, he did for love. Loung became enraged. Love, she knew, did not commit genocide or kill 1.7 – 2 million Cambodians. That night, Loung began to write with a new passion—to negate Pol Pot’s vision of love and to tell the story of real love—the love of family, culture, and nation. A journey that ultimately restored her faith in love, courage, and our humanity.

LEADERS ARE MADE, NOT BORN; FIVE LESSONS ON HOW TO LEAD WITH MORE IMPACT AND HEART



(Themes: Activism, Volunteerism, Student Activism, Leadership)


There is a Cambodian Proverb that says; ‘You cannot claim heaven as your own if you are just going to sit under it.’ Today, there are over 1 Million charitable organizations registered in the US, not counting the thousands of international agencies or millions of
citizen leaders doing extra-ordinary things on a daily basis to make our world a better and safer place for all. This translates into a lot of people doing good work. People who know that peace is not a wish. Peace is not something you want, dream, or wait for others to deliver. Peace is an action. Many, many actions. Whether in one’s heart, community, or world, peace requires our daily actions. With over three decades of experience as a student activist, a professional agent of change working on campaigns to end violence against women, landmines, and the use of child soldiers, and a writer- citizen-restauranteur, Loung shares her five lessons of what it means to lead with impact and heart in our daily lives to make a difference in our world.

LUCKY CHILD; ONE REFUGEE’S STORY OF TRANSFORMATION AND A SECOND LIFE

(Themes: Refugees, Trauma, Activism, Volunteerism)


At the age of eight, Loung Ung was an orphan living on the streets, eating out of garbage cans, hating the world, and wondering why the world hated her. At age ten, Loung, ‘the lucky child’ was selected by her adult brother, Meng, and his wife, Eang, to emigrate to America as refugees and start their second life. To do this, they had to leave behind Loung’s beloved sister and two brothers, who she would not see again for fifteen years. From a child soldier to a warrior for peace, Loung weaves stories of how the community in Vermont came together to help her refugee family overcome dislocation, trauma, cultural and language barriers to build a successful new life in America. In a world where leaders and heroes are often people with well-known names, fame, and fortune, Loung’s personal heroes are the ordinary people who do extraordinary things on a daily basis. They are the teachers, social workers, counselors, first responders, mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, aunts, and friends who change our world one person, one action at a time.

OTHER TOPICS FOR WORKSHOPS:

GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP: changing the world through activism, volunteerism, and travel
THE ART OF MEMOIR WRITNG; six techniques to make your story come to life
TURNING LIFE INTO BOOKS; All the things this author wishes she knew before she published her three memoirs

A writer writes; a published writer has his or her work published. In this workshop, Loung explores with the audience the reasons why and when one may desire to turn his or her life into books. Avid reader and author of three critically acclaimed memoirs, First They Killed My Father; Lucky Child, and Lulu in the Sky. In this workshop, Loung explores the pros and cons of writing memoirs—and shares the tools of when, why, and how to turn a life into books.

The Response

“I encourage everyone to read Lucky Child, a deeply moving and very important book. Equal to the strength of the book is the woman who wrote it.”

Angelina Jolie
Actor and UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador

“Loung was brilliant! From our standpoint, the visit was perfect in every way. She is a riveting speaker, and the visits to individual classes added a great deal of depth.”

Richard A. Hartzell, PhD
Principal of Upper School Taipei American School

“Loung mesmerized the crowd again this year, as she does every time she returns to Saint Michael’s. Her presence, her voice, her intelligence, and her stories gave us shivers of pride and love. We are already talking about when to have her back, and can’t wait for her next book. She is our shining star.”

 Elizabeth Inness-Brown
Director, Writing Center
Saint Michael’s College

“Throughout her visit to Hawken School, Loung Ung’s presence riveted our students. Speaking before our entire school community, she had the undivided attention of the room throughout her remarks on justice, compassion, strength and making the world a stronger place. In small groups and classroom visits, she brought that same intensity to each conversation, earning the respect and admiration of all she encountered. Truly one of the most memorable author visits we’ve ever had.”

Cris Harris
Writing Center Director
Hawken School

“Loung Ung’s visit at Fisher College was inspiring.  Her words were eloquent and powerful to the campus community who heard her story as a young child in Cambodia as well as her struggles and triumphs in her efforts to come to America.  The concept of the “American Dream” was put into perspective and made a powerful statement to our students.  Individuals who were unaware of the genocide in Cambodia have learned through the eyes of a young child and a woman who has made a commitment to speak on behalf of those who have passed.  After Loung Ung’s visit, there was such buzz around campus and those were able to spread the word about Cambodia.”

Kristen Dvorsky
Events Coordinator, Office of Student Activities
Fisher College

“Our visit with Loung Ung was outstanding.  Ms. Ung was personable, engaging, and thoughtful and her interactions with my students was tremendously touching and authentic.  The evening presentation brought in a full house (on a weeknight!) and the audience hung on her every word – you could have heard a pin drop.  I would strongly recommend a visit by Ms. Ung – the impact she had on us as a school and as individuals was deep and moving.”

Aya Murata
Advisor to Asian and Asian American Student
Phillips Academy

“Of all the talks given by guest speakers at Andover, Loung Ung’s was the most powerful. The Khmer Rouge genocide is a significant tragedy that many people are still unfamiliar with and there is nobody who could have shared its stories better than Ung. She shared stories of her struggles during and after the rule of the Khmer Rouge. Ung also presented both the direct and indirect impact of the genocide to Cambodians today (particularly of the danger of the land mines that were planted during the time). Like her book, Ung’s speech was passionate and moving. When Loung Ung started speaking, the whole auditorium turned silent – everyone was captivated and many were in tears.”

Yuni Sumawijaya ’12
Vice-President of Asian Society
Phillips Academy

 

“When we read about genocide, it is often from an impersonal perspective. We list numbers – 2 million in Cambodia, 1 million in Rwanda – without giving much thought to what those mean. Further, once the genocide is over, we quickly forget. We know about Cambodia from 1975 to 1979, but not before or after. We know about Rwanda in the spring of 1994, but fail to understand the country as it was even a year later. Loung Ung, though, helped the Phillips Academy community transcend these impersonal boundaries and come to understand genocide as what it is: a personal tragedy. Through the stories of her family before, during, and after the genocide, she imbued all who listened with a deeply personal connection to her tragedy, a connection that one can only hope will translate into action.”

Matthew Lloyd-Thomas ’12
Co-President of STAND
Phillips Academy

“Loung’s voice is powerful! She was able to remind us of our common humanity while appreciating cultural differences that make us unique. She focused on the role of biography in shaping who and what we are – but not allowing it to limit our vision of ourselves or each other. Her message inspired our clinicians to better understand the perspective of those whom we serve.”

Shed Boren, PhD
Administrator / CEO
Sister Emmanuel Hospital

“Loung Ung was animated, humorous, and poignant in her lecture.  She invited the audience into her past, without asking for sympathy.  The Southeast Asian Alliance (at Smith College) was very pleased with the audience interest before and after the event, receiving positive feedback and questions about activism and genocide prevention.  We greatly enjoyed her presence, and encourage all academics to hear Loung’s story.”

Veronica Tjioe
Conference Chair, Southeast Asian Alliance
Smith College

“Loung came to speak to a large group of Cathay Pacific Airways North American and Hong Kong based managers in Vancouver. She delivered a powerful, moving and yet very human story. People watched in total rapt attention, many with tears in their eyes. To this day many still talk about the event and the impact she made. Loung is not just an inspiring and powerful speaker; she also comes across as so totally genuine. She manages to mix emotion and a compelling story with great enthusiasm. Her infectious charm and sense of fun is so much part of the experience. Once you have heard Loung speak, you are captivated, drawn in and left feeling good and wanting to do something positive with your life.”

Tom Wright
General Manager, India, Middle East, Africa & Pakistan
Cathay Pacific

“Loung was not only an outstanding speaker but also extremely skilled in shaping her passion and commitment to the theme of Seattle Human Rights Day. The audience was riveted to their seats during her presentation and there were few dry eyes in the house. We are still receiving heartfelt thanks and comments from both the Khmer community and the general public. On behalf of us here at the Seattle Office for Civil Rights, thank you for helping to make this event one of our best ever.”

Germaine W. Covington
Director
Seattle Office of Civil Rights

 

“The ‘All Johnson County Reads the Same Book’ planning committee selected Loung Ung’s First They Killed My Father for its community read. It was an outstanding decision… The project culminated in a University of Iowa lecture in which Loung received a standing ovation from an audience of over 500 who were captured by the substance of the subject matter and her passion for social justice.”

Chivy Sok
Deputy Director
University of Iowa Center for Human Rights

“Loung Ung is a rare and remarkable speaker. As a survivor of the Cambodian Killing Fields, Loung takes her audience into a world of unspeakable suffering, heartbreaking loss, and unimaginable hardship. Yet, it is not these things that remain with you after you have heard her speak. What stays with you is Loung’s voice. A voice of strength, kindness, and most of all, of incandescent hope. A voice that boldly empowers us to put down whatever hardship we might have endured and forge ahead to create the world we all would like to
see.”

Gail Straub
Co-founder and Executive Director
The Empowerment Institute

“Loung Ung gives a face and voice to a topic that could otherwise be almost inaccessible due its great sadness and weight: the topic of war and genocide. Ms. Ung has the compassion and spirit necessary to connect with audiences that might otherwise be overwhelmed by the menace and malice of history. Her story, as tragic as it might be, fills the listener with a sense of hope, direction, and purpose. Whereas her subject matter is as difficult and challenging as it gets, Loung Ung’s presence is a straightforward testimony of human strength and the possibility of good rising from evil.”

Dan Scheibe
Assistant Head of School
Middlesex School