It was a moment of pure triumph for Thai cinema. At the 82nd Venice International Film Festival, audiences leapt to their feet for a full three-minute standing ovation following the world premiere of Human Resource, the powerful new film from director Nawapol Thamrongrattanarit. And the applause wasn't the only honour. In a goosebump-inducing moment for the Thai film industry, the movie also took home a prestigious award, cementing its place as one of the festival's critical darlings.
On September 5, Human Resource was awarded the Fondazione Fai Persona Lavoro Ambiente Award, a prize celebrating films that masterfully explore the thorny issues of labour and the environment. It's a perfect fit for Nawapol, the creative force behind modern Thai classics like Mary Is Happy, and Die Tomorrow, who tackles these topics with his trademark quiet wit and profound humanity. Produced by GDH (the studio behind box-office smash How to Make a Million Before Grandma Dies) in collaboration with One Cool Connect and JAI Studios, the film was inspired by Nawapol’s own anxieties about parenthood. He describes it as a ‘mirror room’ reflecting the uncertainties of one generation passing on to the next.”
At its heart, the film follows Fren, a human resources manager who spends her days interviewing young, eager employees at a morally ambiguous company. But Fern is hiding a secret: she’s pregnant and she’s not sure she wants to be. The question gnaws at her – is it fair to bring a child into a world that feels increasingly uncertain? It’s a question many audiences, not just in Thailand, will recognize. Thematically, the film couldn’t be more timely. It touches on the global anxieties of falling birth rates, the dehumanizing grind of corporate culture and the growing sense that work often strips us of our dignity rather than enhancing it. For Thai viewers, those themes hit particularly close to home. The country has long wrestled with debates about overwork, workplace exploitation and the balance between economic growth and human well-being – debates that still dominate headlines.
The award win was a triumph but the standing ovation was the cherry on top. ‘At first I was so nervous, I didn’t know how to react,’ Nawapol confessed after the screening. ‘But then I could really feel the warmth from the audience. It was an incredible moment to share with the cast.’ Those cast members, Urng-oi Prapamonton, Phet Phowaphat, Atom Chanakan and Pimmma PiXXiE – joined him on stage, basking in a career-defining Venice spotlight.
This milestone comes hot on the heels of another breakthrough for Thai cinema: A Useful Ghost, directed by Ratchapoom Boonbunchachoke, which won the Grand Prize at Critics’ Week (Semaine de la Critique) at the 78th Cannes Film Festival earlier this year. Pair these wins with the fact that Hollywood productions are increasingly choosing Thailand as a filming destination and a question emerges: are we witnessing the birth of Thaillywood?
Audiences at home won’t have to wait long to see what the fuss is about. Human Resource is slated to release in Thai cinemas in January 2026. And if Venice is any indication, expect to clap until your hands are sore.