Private Project

The Friend

Laura joins her old friend Ina and Ina’s partner Erik for a casual dinner. On the surface, everything seems friendly. But beneath it lies a dangerous obsession. Laura is in love with Erik. In her bag: a vial of ricin — one of the most lethal poisons on earth. As the evening seemingly unfolds harmoniously, a diabolical plan is secretly unfolding.

  • Adrian Letzner
    Director
  • Adrian Letzner
    Writer
  • Adrian Letzner
    Producer
  • Sarah Victoria Schalow
    Key Cast
    "Laura"
  • Stefan Bockelmann
    Key Cast
    "Erik"
  • Ania Niedieck
    Key Cast
    "Ina"
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    Die Freundin
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Runtime:
    9 minutes 25 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    June 20, 2025
  • Production Budget:
    1,000 EUR
  • Country of Origin:
    Germany
  • Country of Filming:
    Germany
  • Language:
    German
  • Shooting Format:
    RED
  • Aspect Ratio:
    2:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
Director Biography - Adrian Letzner

I began my journey as a filmmaker in childhood, using my father's camcorder and my toys to create my first short films. Later on, I worked on small film projects for school with peers and friends, which further deepened my passion for filmmaking.
During my training as a Media Designer for Production and Editing – which I completed in February 2025 – I interned at UFA Serial Drama in Cologne. There, I met experienced colleagues who supported me in shooting my first major short film in November 2024. Today, I work as a Material Assistant at UFA while simultaneously preparing my next film projects.

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Director Statement

I wanted to write a story that wouldn’t be too difficult to realize for my first short film, but still posed a real challenge. I thought of a chamber play, a dialogue-driven piece—but it also had to deal with life and death. Bit by bit, more and more ideas came to me. To me, the film is mainly about envy, and the dark places this feeling can lead a person to. It was a fantastic and insightful experience to bring this story to the screen with my team. I’m deeply grateful to everyone for the hard work they put into it, and I’m immensely proud of our movie.