Not Friends

Not Friends is director Atta Hemwadee's debut, about Pae, a disaffected student who, after her popular schoolmate Joe dies in a traffic accident despite having no real bond with him, coldly proposes making a memorial film to strengthen her university application. The film opened in Thailand on October 26, 2023, grossing 15.6 million baht. It was selected as Thailand's official submission for Best International Feature Film at the 96th Academy Awards but didn't make the final shortlist. The film also screened at the 28th Fantasia International Film Festival on July 21, 2024. Who it's for: anyone curious about a Thai drama comedy, selected as its country's Oscar submission, about a student turning a friend's death into a university application opportunity. Who it's not for: viewers wanting a warm, emotional grief story, since the film takes a cold, clear eyed look at the exploitation of mourning.