Salty Pictures, Damai Entertainment Strike First Look Deal Starting With Thai Oscar Entry ‘Not Friends’ Chinese Adaptation (EXCLUSIVE)

Hong Kong-based film and TV studio Salty Pictures has signed a first look deal with Chinese entertainment powerhouse Damai Entertainment (formerly Alibaba Pictures) to develop a slate of Chinese-rooted films with global appeal.

The partnership kicks off with “Not Friends,” a Mandarin-language adaptation of the Thai coming-of-age comedy-drama that served as Thailand’s official submission for Best International Feature Film at the 96th Academy Awards.

Multi-hyphenate Gao Xiaosong will oversee the slate under the first look deal and executive produce “Not Friends.” The veteran creative, who launched his career as a songwriter with folksy hits in the 1990s including “My Old Classmate,” has since expanded into filmmaking (“My Kingdom”), television hosting (“U Can You BB”), and producing. His recent credits include serving as executive producer on the Primetime Emmy-nominated “3 Body Problem” and the feature “My Old Classmate.” Gao previously held the position of chief content officer at Alibaba Media and Entertainment Group from 2019 to 2021.

“Bad Genius” and “One for the Road” helmer Baz Poonpiriya will also come aboard as a producer on the project.

Damai Entertainment will provide financial backing for the film, which is slated to begin production in Hangzhou later this year. UTA is packaging the project, with casting currently underway.

The original “Not Friends,” produced by GDH and winner of best picture at Thailand’s National Film Association Awards, follows a high schooler who transfers to a new school and sees an opportunity to make a commemorative film about a deceased classmate despite having no real relationship to the boy. The Chinese adaptation will transplant the story to a university setting in a fictional Chinese city while maintaining the same narrative arc.

“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,” said Salty Pictures chief Jonah Greenberg, a former head of CAA China. “‘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.”

Salty Pictures, led by seasoned producer Greenberg whose credits include “Cave Rescue” and “Shadow,” operates as a boutique film and television studio based in Hong Kong.

Damai Entertainment describes itself as a technology-driven company focused on immersive entertainment experiences. Its operations span film production, live performances, IP commercialization, TV series, artist management, and ticketing platforms. The company’s newly launched mobile app offers ticketing services and content discovery capabilities.