Cannes Film Festival Awards
The Cannes Film Festival has announced the winners of its prestigious awards, with Ratchaapoom Boonbunchokes’ comedy-drama "A Useful Spirit" taking home the Grand Prix in the sidebar of independent critics.
Jury and Selection
The film was selected by a jury led by President Rodrigo Sorogoyen, along with jurors Jihane Bougrine, Josée Deshaies, Yulina Evina Bhara, and Daniel Kaluuya. The jury’s diverse and experienced members brought their expertise to the selection process, choosing "A Useful Spirit" from a pool of talented filmmakers.
The Winning Film
In "A Useful Spirit," a man in Thailand mourns the loss of his wife due to pollution. However, he discovers that she was reborn in a vacuum cleaner, leading to a unique and humorous exploration of their bond. The film was written by Boonbunchokes and produced by Cattleya Paosrijeroen and Soros Sukhum for Thailand’s 185 Films and Tsixtysix, in co-production with France’s Les Main Productions, Germany’s Mayana Films, and Singapore’s Momo-Film Co.
Other Award Winners
The documentary "Imago" took the Jury Prize, directed by Deni Oummar Pitsaev. The film follows a man who returns to his birth village on the Chechen border, where old feuds and family dramas resurface. The Rising Star Award, presented by the Louis Roederer Foundation, went to Pauline Loques’ "Nino." Other notable winners include Shih-Ching Tsou’s "Left-Handed Girls" and Guillermo Galoe and Victor Alonso-Berbel’s "Sleepless City."
Full List of Winners
Here is the complete list of winners:
- Grand Prix: "A Useful Spirit" (Dir. Ratchaapoom Boonbunchokes)
- Jury Prize: "Imago" (Dir. Deni Oummar Pitsaev)
- Rising Star Award: "Nino" (Dir. Pauline Loques)
- Short Film Award: "The Mina" (Dir. Randa Maroufi)
Partner Prizes
Additional awards were given by partners, including:
- SACD Award: Guillermo Galoe and Victor Alonso-Berbel for "Sleepless City"
- Canal+ Award: "Erogenesis" (Dir. Xandra Popescu)
The official selection awards will be distributed at the festival ceremony on May 24th.
