The breakout Thai film “Lahn Mah,” globally recognized as “How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies,” has been officially selected as Thailand’s entry for the 97th Academy Awards.
The film is set to compete in the Best International Feature Film category, chosen by a panel of experts including producers, directors, cinema operators, and media professionals from the Thai film industry. This selection was announced by the National Federation of Thai Film Associations.
To be eligible for the international feature category, films must be produced outside the United States, run longer than 40 minutes, and primarily feature a non-English language.
A total of 49 Thai films were considered this year, with “Lahn Mah” standing out for its exceptional quality, heartfelt narrative, and broad international appeal, as stated by the federation.
This appeal has translated into impressive box-office success, grossing over $50 million (approximately 1.6 billion baht) worldwide, including around $15 million from China. It has emerged as the highest-grossing Thai film of 2024, amassing 250 million baht in combined receipts from Bangkok and Chiang Mai as of early September.
In the Philippines, the film saw sold-out screenings on its opening day, prompting cinemas to increase showtimes to accommodate high demand, with one chain even providing tissues to viewers moved by the poignant storyline.
The plot follows M, a young man without direction whose primary ambition is to livestream video games. When he learns that his maternal grandmother has Stage 4 cancer, he offers to take care of her, motivated not by love, but by the hope of inheriting her house.
As M moves in with his grandmother, he begins to understand the complexities of his Thai-Chinese family.
“It speaks to a universal theme of family connection,” expressed the film’s director.
