"Not Friends"
Hong Kong based film and TV studio Salty Pictures, led by producer Jonah Greenberg ("Cave Rescue"), has inked a first look deal with Chinese film juggernaut Damai Entertainment (formerly Alibaba Pictures) to create a pipeline of Chinese-rooted films with global appeal which will be co-produced and distributed nationally by Damai Entertainment. The first of these is "Not Friends", a Mandarin adaptation of the high school-set comedy drama that was Thailand’s official submission for Best International Feature Film at the 96th Academy Awards.
Jonah Greenberg said: “This deal with Damai Entertainment is a significant milestone for Salty Pictures, and underscores the value of our focus on pan Asian-rooted stories with global appeal. 'Not Friends' builds on a story that has already resonated deeply with audiences — one we believe will continue to connect across cultures. Our acquisition of the remake rights through trusted relationships in the Thai industry is a testament to Salty’s identity as a Pan-Asian studio — one that’s actively working across languages, borders, and traditions to bring powerful stories to life.”
"Not Friends", produced by GDH, is a coming-of-age comedy drama which follows a highschooler who transfers to a new school - and after the sudden tragic death of a classmate, sees an opportunity to make a commemorative film despite having no real relationship to the dead boy. Set in a fictional Chinese city, the remake will follow the same story arc although will be set at a university.
Multi-hyphenate Gao Xiaosong will oversee the slate under this first look deal and will executive produce "Not Friends". In addition to Gao, Baz Poonpiriya ("Bad Genius") will also come onboard as a producer. Damai Entertainment will financially support the project, which is set to begin production in Hangzhou later this year. The film is being packaged by UTA, with casting currently underway.
