Singapore-based Film & TV Company Momo Film Co. is proud to announce its role as a co-producer of A Useful Ghost, the Thai social satire selected for the 2025 Cannes Critics’ Week. Directed by Ratchapoom Boonbunchachoke, the film marks Thailand’s first entry in the festival’s Critics’ Week section in a decade and will premiere globally at the prestigious event.

The film tells the story of March, who is mourning his wife Nat after she dies due to dust pollution. When he discovers that her spirit has unexpectedly returned in the form of a vacuum cleaner, he embrasses it and the pair form an unconventional human-ghost love story. But March’s family, which has seen their factory turned upside down by the ghost of a former employee, rejects the relationship. Eager to convince the family of her and March’s love, Nat sets off to become a useful ghost and offers to cleanse the factory

A Useful Ghost is a co-production between Thailand, Singapore, and France, supported by grants including Singapore’s Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) and the Locarno Film Festival’s Open Doors Award. Momo Film Co., alongside 185 Films and Haut Les Mains, contributed to the project’s development, reinforcing its commitment to elevating Southeast Asian voices in global cinema.

The film features contributions from acclaimed Singaporean creatives: Co Producer Tan Si En, a trailblazing film producer and 2024 Young Artist Award recipient. Recognized as one of The Straits Times’ 30 Under 30 in the Arts and a Tatler Gen.T Leader of Tomorrow, Tan’s portfolio includes Don’t Cry, Butterfly (Venice Critics’ Week 2024 Grand Prix winner) and Wet Season (Singapore’s 2021 Oscars submission).

Lim Ting Li, award-winning sound designer, serves as Supervising Sound Editor. Known for her work on Boo Junfeng’s Apprentice, Kirsten Tan’s Pop Aye and Chiang Wei Liang’s Mongrel – Lim’s expertise in crafting immersive soundscapes enhances the film’s psychological depth and atmospheric tension.

Sim Hao Jie, an industrial designer that enjoys the constant struggle in finding the perfect resolution between function and form. His background in creating narratives that address societal issues aligns with the film’s themes of pollution and community resilience.

Ratchapoom Boonbunchachoke says: “Despite Thailand being well-known for making scary horror films, ‘A Useful Ghost’ does not try to frighten or scare the audiences, instead it provokes them to think about the relationship between human and ghost in our society. ‘How ghosts live?’ ‘Do ghosts need the living to exist?’ ‘How ghosts work?’ ‘Do ghosts pay the rent themselves?’ These are a few silly questions popping in my head while I first started the project years ago. I expand the original idea into a playful story with humour and social observation. I’m so excited to present the film at Cannes Critic’s Week.”

Says producer Tan Si En: “We are thrilled to see A Useful Ghost selected for Cannes Critics’ Week. This film embodies our philosophy at Momo Film Co.—that specificity in storytelling can resonate universally,” said Tan Si En, founder of Momo Film Co. “As we continue to stake out new territories for emerging Southeast Asian filmmakers, projects like A Useful Ghost remind us of the power of storytelling to bridge cultures and inspire change.”

Founded in 2018, Momo Film Co. has quickly become a leading force in Southeast Asian cinema, known for its bold storytelling and strategic partnerships. This project adds to Momo’s portfolio of award-winning and edge-cutting works, including Don’t Cry, Butterfly (Venice Critics’ Week 2024) and Dreaming & Dying (Locarno 2023), as well as coproductions with international studios like STUDIOCANAL. Momo’s dedication to nurturing regional talent is evident through initiatives like the Momo Distribution Grant, further solidifying its role as a catalyst for innovative storytelling in Asia and beyond.

A Useful Ghost will screen at Cannes alongside other Critics’ Week titles, including Laura Wandel’s Adam’s Interest and Guillermo Galoe’s Sleepless City. International sales are handled by Brussels-based Best Friend Forever.