CANNES, France — Ratchapoom Boonbunchachoke has made a significant mark at the Cannes Film Festival with his debut feature film, A Useful Ghost, which has won the prestigious Grand Prix in the Critics’ Week sidebar. The award was selected by a jury chaired by filmmaker Rodrigo Sorogoyen, alongside jurors Jihane Bougrine, Josée Deshaies, Yulina Evina Bhara, and actor Daniel Kaluuya.
Set against the vibrant backdrop of Thailand, A Useful Ghost tells the poignant story of a man grappling with the devastating loss of his wife, who succumbed to dust pollution. In a surreal twist, he discovers that her spirit has been reincarnated in a vacuum cleaner, rekindling their connection in an unexpected way.
Boonbunchachoke not only wrote the film but also produced it alongside Cattleya Paosrijeroen and Soros Sukhum for Thailand’s 185 Films and Tsixtysix. The film is in collaboration with international partners, including France’s Haut Les Mains Productions, Germany’s Mayana Films, and Singapore’s Momo Film Co. World sales for the film are managed by Best Friend Forever.
In addition to A Useful Ghost, the documentary Imago, directed by Deni Oumar Pitsaev, received the jury prize. This film explores the complexities of returning to one’s roots, as it follows a man venturing back to his village near the Chechen border, where past conflicts and family struggles linger.
The Rising Star award was presented to Pauline Loques for her film Nino. Other partner awards recognized Shih-Ching Tsou’s Left-Handed Girl, which was produced by Sean Baker, as well as Guillermo Galoe and Victor Alons-Berbel for the screenplay of Sleepless City.
The ceremony for the Official Selection awards is set to take place on May 24, celebrating a diverse array of cinematic talent from around the globe.
The Cannes Critics’ Week awards for 2025 include:
- Grand Prix: A Useful Ghost, directed by Ratchapoom Boonbunchachoke
- Jury Prize: Imago, directed by Deni Oumar Pitsaev
- Rising Star Award: Nino, directed by Pauline Loques
- Short Film Prize: L’mina, directed by Randa Maroufi
In addition to the main awards, the SACD award recognized Guillermo Galoe and Victor Alonso-Berbel for Sleepless City, while the Canal+ award was given to Xandra Popescu for Erogenesis.
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