Salty Pictures Partners with Damai Entertainment for Groundbreaking Film Project
Hong Kong-based film and television studio Salty Pictures has announced an exciting first-look deal with Damai Entertainment, the renowned Chinese entertainment giant formerly known as Alibaba Pictures. This collaboration aims to create a diverse lineup of films rooted in Chinese culture that resonate with audiences worldwide.
The partnership kicks off with the production of “Not Friends,” a Mandarin-language adaptation of the acclaimed Thai coming-of-age comedy-drama. This film was Thailand’s official submission for the Best International Feature Film category at the 96th Academy Awards. Multi-talented creative Gao Xiaosong will spearhead the project, serving as executive producer for “Not Friends.” Gao has had a remarkable career, beginning as a songwriter in the 1990s with hits like “My Old Classmate,” and later branching into filmmaking, television hosting, and producing. His recent accolades include executive producing the Primetime Emmy-nominated series “3 Body Problem” and the feature film “My Old Classmate.” Gao previously held the role of Chief Content Officer at Alibaba Media and Entertainment Group from 2019 to 2021.
Joining the project as a producer is acclaimed director Baz Poonpiriya, known for his work on “Bad Genius” and “One for the Road.” Damai Entertainment will provide the financial backing necessary for this exciting film, which is set to begin production in Hangzhou later this year. The project is currently being packaged by UTA, with casting actively underway.
The original “Not Friends,” produced by GDH, follows a high school student who transfers to a new school and seizes the chance to create a commemorative film about a deceased classmate, despite having no real connection to him. The Chinese adaptation will transport this narrative to a university setting in a fictional Chinese city, while preserving the core storyline.
“This collaboration with Damai Entertainment marks a significant milestone for Salty Pictures and highlights our commitment to telling pan-Asian stories with universal appeal,” said Jonah Greenberg, Chief of Salty Pictures and former head of CAA China. “‘Not Friends’ builds upon a story that has already touched audiences deeply, and we believe it will continue to resonate across cultures. Our successful acquisition of the remake rights, facilitated by our strong relationships within the Thai industry, underscores Salty’s mission as a pan-Asian studio dedicated to transcending languages, borders, and traditions to bring compelling stories to life.”
Salty Pictures, led by experienced producer Greenberg, operates as a boutique film and television studio based in Hong Kong, with notable credits including “Cave Rescue” and “Shadow.” Damai Entertainment is a technology-driven company focused on immersive entertainment experiences, engaging in film production, live performances, IP commercialization, television series, artist management, and ticketing solutions. Its newly launched mobile app enhances user experience with ticketing services and content discovery features.
GDH, the original producer of the Thai film, is a fully integrated studio that has gained international acclaim with films like “Bad Genius” (2017), the first Thai film to open the New York Asian Film Festival; “The Paradise of Thorns” (2024), which received awards at the LGBT+ Film Festival in Poland and was selected for the Toronto International Film Festival; and “How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies” (2024), the first Thai film to make the 15-film shortlist for the Academy Awards’ international feature category.
Stay tuned for more updates as Salty Pictures and Damai Entertainment embark on this exciting cinematic journey!
