23rd New York Asian Film Festival

July 12-28, 2024

Photo: ©2023 GDH 559 AND HOUSETON CO., LTD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

North American Premiere

Not Friends

เพื่อน(ไม่)สนิท

From the Thai team behind Bad Genius (NYAFF 2017 grand opener) and You & Me & Me (whose leads it reunites here) this coming-of-age tale is a cheeky, imaginative romp through the world of guerilla filmmaking that's as unpredictable as a Bangkok traffic jam. When he transfers to a new school, Pae, a brooding teen with a serious attitude problem, gets a crash course in positivity from irrepressibly optimistic Joe. The bromance ends prematurely, but it brings Pae out of his shell and sets him on a mission to make a film in honor of his erstwhile companion. Along the way, the teenager must come to terms with his "me against the world" complex when a crew of misfits shows him what true creative expression and friendship are all about. This striking directorial debut pulls out all the stops, turning every plot point on its ear with a wink and a smile.

Director: Atta Hemwadee
Producer: Baz Poonpiriya
Cast: Anthony Buisseret, Pisitpol Ekaphongpisit, Thitiya Jirapornsilp
Languages: Thai with English subtitles
2023; 129 min.

SCHEDULE:

Saturday July 13, 6:15pm
Film at Lincoln Center

Intro with director Atta Hemwadee, producer Baz Poonpiriya, and cast Anthony Buisseret and Thitiya Jirapornsilp

Atta Hemwadee
ต้า อัตตา เหมวดี

Atta Hemwadee is a Thai film director, editor and screenwriter specializing in teenage romance, comedy and music. He was also the former bassist of the band Two Million Thanks. After graduating from the architecture department of King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Ladkrabang, he started working with famed novelist and independent filmmaker, Prabda Yoon. Later, he started making videos for a magazine company which caught the attention of Thitipong Kerdtongtawee, one of the founders of production studio Hello Filmmaker, who signed him to an agency where he began his career directing music videos and commercials. His breakthrough came in 2019 with the music video, Mai-Ru-Tham-Mai by Whal & Dolph, which garnered 13 million views on Youtube. Not Friends, based on his own screenplay, is his feature directorial debut.

Baz Poonpiriya
นัฐวุฒิ พูนพิริยะ

Baz Poonpiriya is a Thai film director, producer, and screenwriter of feature films, commercials, and music videos, internationally acclaimed for his kinetic visual style and assured storytelling. After graduating with an MFA in stage directing from Srinakharinwirot University , he worked as an assistant director on TV commercials fbefore moving to New York to study graphic design at Pratt Institute. He returned to Thailand in 2011 and worked as a music video director before directing his first feature film, the horror thriller Countdown. He then directed Bad Genius (NYAFF 2017), which became a surprise hit, won a record-breaking 12 Suphannahong National Film Awards, and brought him international fame. He premiered One for the Road, produced by Wong Kar-wai, at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival, where it won the World Cinema Dramatic Special Jury Award: Creative Vision and was selected as the Thai entry for the Academy Awards®. Baz founded the production company Houseton and Not Friends (NYAFF 2024)) is his first film as a producer.

Anthony Buisseret
อันโทนี่ บุยเซอเรท์

Anthony “Tony” Buisseret is a Belgian-Thai actor who made his film debut with You & Me & Me (NYAFF 2023) playing the love interest of its leads. He prepared for the role by living in the countryside to learn the ways and customs of the people there as well as to learn how to speak the Northeastern dialect. He is reuniting with his You & Me & Me co-star, Thitiya “Baipor” Jirapornsilp, and playing the male lead in GDH’s new film, Not Friends.

Thitiya Jirapornsilp
ใบปอ ธิติยา จิระพรศิลป์

Thitiya “Baipor” Jirapornsilp is a Thai actress of Chinese descent who made her debut with the film You & Me & Me (NYAFF 2023), playing the titular roles of twin sisters You and Me. While the filmmakers had planned to cast real-life twins for the sisters, and Baipor won them over with her audition for the film. They were so impressed, they gave her both roles. She has since appeared in actor-singer Billkin’s music video, Please Please in 2022. She is reuniting with her You & Me & Me co-star, Anthony “Tony” Buisseret, to play the female lead in GDH’s new film, Not Friends.