2025 film by Ratchapoom Boonbunchachoke
A Useful Ghost Theatrical release poster
Thai ผีใช้ได้ค่ะ
Directed by Ratchapoom Boonbunchachoke Written by Ratchapoom Boonbunchachoke Produced by
Cattleya Paosrijaroen
Soros Sukhum Karim Aitouna
Tan Si En
Zoraya Musikic
Chayamporn Taeratanachai
Kris Eiamsakulrat
Cod Satrusayang
May Odeh Starring Cinematography Pasit Tandaechanurat Edited by Chonlasit Upanigkit Music by Chaibovon Seelukwa Production
185 Films
Haut Les Mains
Momo Films
Mayana Films
Kliff Studios
N8
Cinema22 Distributed by GDH 559 (Thailand)Release dates
May 17, 2025 (2025-05-17 ) (Cannes )
August 28, 2025 (2025-08-28 ) (Thailand) Running time
130 minutes Countries
Thailand
France
Singapore
Germany Languages
A Useful Ghost Thai : ผีใช้ได้ค่ะ , romanized : Phi Chaidai Kha fantasy black comedy-drama [ 1] Davika Hoorne , Witsarut Himmarat , Apasiri Nitibhon , Wanlop Rungkumjad, and Wisarut Homhuan. It is a co-production of Thailand, France, Singapore, and Germany.
The film had its world premiere at the Critics' Week section of the 2025 Cannes Film Festival on 17 May 2025, where it won the Grand Prix .[ 2] GDH 559 . It was selected as the Thai entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 98th Academy Awards .[ 3]
After dying from a respiratory disease , a woman's spirit possesses a vacuum cleaner to protect her husband when he begins showing the same symptoms.[ 4]
The project participated in the 2021 Locarno Film Festival 's Open Doors program, where it won the top prize and received a production grant of 35,000 CHF .[ 5] [ 6] [ 7] Hubert Bals Fund +Europe: Minority Co-production Support during the International Film Festival Rotterdam .[ 8] Berlinale 's World Cinema Fund .[ 9]
A Useful Ghost had its world premiere on 17 May 2025 at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival in the Critics' Week section.[ 10] [ 11] [ 12] Grand Prix .[ 2] [ 1] [ 13]
GDH , under their Out Of The Box label, acquired local distribution rights and it set to be released in Thailand in August 28, 2025.
^ a b c Dalton, Ben (22 May 2025). "Thai comedy-drama 'A Useful Ghost' wins top prize at Cannes Critics' Week 2025" . Screen International . Retrieved 22 May 2025 . ^ a b Goodfellow, Melanie (21 May 2025). "Cannes Critics' Week Winners: Thai Film 'A Useful Ghost' & 'Imago' Take Top Prizes" . Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved 22 May 2025 . ^ Ramachandran, Naman (20 August 2025). "Thailand Selects Cannes Prize Winner 'A Useful Ghost' as Oscar Entry" . Variety . Retrieved 20 August 2025 . ^ Thorne, Will (10 August 2021). "Locarno Open Doors Winner 'A Useful Ghost' Uses Dust and a Ghostly Vacuum Cleaner to Comment on Thai Politics" . Variety Archived from the original on 6 October 2022. Retrieved 30 April 2025 . ^ Thorne, Will (10 August 2021). "Thailand's 'A Useful Ghost' Wins Top Prize at Locarno Open Doors Awards" . Variety . Archived from the original on 3 October 2024. Retrieved 30 April 2025 . ^ Ramachandran, Naman (8 October 2022). "Singapore's Momo Boards 'Andragogy,' 'A Useful Ghost,' 'Dreaming & Dying'; 'Don't Cry, Butterfly' Finds U.K. Funding – Busan ACFM (EXCLUSIVE)" . Variety . Archived from the original on 5 July 2023. Retrieved 30 April 2025 .^ Frater, Patrick (24 May 2023). "France's Haut Les Mains Boards 'A Useful Ghost,' From Thailand's 185 Films (EXCLUSIVE)" . Variety . Archived from the original on 21 May 2024. Retrieved 30 April 2025 . ^ Calnan, Ellie (11 July 2023). "Rotterdam's Hubert Bals Fund unveils titles for new post-production scheme" . Screen International Archived from the original on 8 December 2023. Retrieved 30 April 2025 . ^ Dams, Tim (24 November 2023). "Berlinale's World Cinema Fund backs 14 projects" . Screen International . Archived from the original on 21 February 2025. Retrieved 30 April 2025 . ^ "The Screenings Guide of the 78th Festival de Cannes" . Festival de Cannes . 8 May 2025. Retrieved 8 May 2025 .^ Rithdee, Kong (14 April 2025). " . Bangkok Post . Retrieved 30 April 2025 . ^ Goodfellow, Melanie (14 April 2025). "Cannes Critics' Week Unveils 2025 Selection – Full List & Details" . Deadline Hollywood Archived from the original on 16 April 2025. Retrieved 30 April 2025 . ^ Keslassy, Elsa (14 April 2025). "Cannes' Thai Movie 'A Useful Ghost' Boarded by Best Friend Forever Ahead of Critics' Week Premiere (EXCLUSIVE)" . Variety . Archived from the original on 18 April 2025. Retrieved 30 April 2025 . ^ "We Complete the 2025 line-up: Guillermo del Toro, Yorgos Lanthimos, Park Chan-wook, Carmen Maura, and Other Big Names in Contemporary Fantastic Genre" . Sitges Film Festival the original on 2025-09-14. Retrieved 2025-09-14 . 
