Angelina Jolie to speak at ASEAN Inclusive Growth Summit in Manila

A-LIST: Actor Angelina Jolie poses on the red carpet during arrivals for the screening of the movie "Maria," in competition, at the 81st Venice Film Festival, Venice, Italy, August 29, 2024. REUTERS Jolie will visit Manila alongside Cambodian filmmaker Rithy Panh, whom she had worked with in 2017 for the film 'First They Killed My Father' Angelina Jolie will be a guest speaker at the 2026 ASEAN Inclusive Growth Summit in Manila, discussing themes related to Cambodia and the power of community-led solutions. She will participate in a panel with Cambodian filmmaker Rithy Panh, who survived the Khmer Rouge and collaborated with Jolie on the film 'First They Killed My Father.' Lea Salonga will also speak at the summit, focusing on amplifying voices in Southeast Asia and sharing insights on pursuing a creative career in the region. This is AI-generated. Read the article for full context. Report any errors. MANILA, Philippines – Renowned Hollywood actress and humanitarian Angelina Jolie is set to be a guest speaker at the 2026 ASEAN Inclusive Growth Summit in Manila on Wednesday, November 11. Jolie will weigh in on the panel discussion “From memory to possibility: Cambodia, courage and the power of staying.” She will be joined by Cambodian filmmaker Rithy Panh, who survived the Khmer Rouge regime and lived to use his talent for film to spotlight the stories of his people. The two notably worked together on the film First They Killed My Father, based on the non-fiction book by Loung Ung published in 2000. The film, which premiered in 2017, follows the story of then-five-year-old Ung, who is forced by the Khmer Rouge to become a child soldier. Jolie had served as director and screenwriter (with Ung), while she and Panh also shared co-producer billing with Ted Sarandos and Michael Vieira. “Their story is rooted in Cambodia, but its lessons are universal: lasting change is built alongside communities rather than for them; the people closest to a problem are best placed to lead its solution; and real progress for women and families is measured in decades, not project or funding cycles,” the talk’s description reads. “Those lessons matter well beyond Cambodia: for every economy in ASEAN and for anyone who wants growth to be inclusive, sustainable, and resilient.” Jolie has long served as a staunch advocate of human rights — her journey dating back to 2000, when a visit to Cambodia to film Tomb Raiders exposed her to the displacement of people across the country. In 2001, she was named the UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador. She adopted her son, Maddox, from Cambodia in 2002. She was then granted Cambodian citizenship in 2005 to recognize the “generosity” she has extended toward the country. Filipina theater star and singer Lea Salonga will also be a featured speaker at the ASEAN Inclusive Growth Summit in the interview titled “In unison: Amplifying every voice in ASEAN.” Salonga will share her thoughts on pursuing a creative career in Southeast Asia. – Rappler.com How does this make you feel? Loading