Private Project

The Last Letter

Marta, a young writer, once again receives a rejection from a publishing house. Disappointment paralyzes her thoughts, and she decides to write her greatest and final work — a farewell letter — to prove to everyone what she’s truly capable of. But there’s one problem: Marta can’t write.

In search of inspiration, she goes to the city library to find a rare book about the last letters of great writers. There, she learns that the book has long been overdue — it’s still held by an unknown reader. Following the clues, Marta sets off to find this person, hoping the book will help her overcome her creative crisis.

  • Michael Reichel
    Director
  • Michael Reichel
    Writer
  • Sofia Gubarev
    Writer
  • Arina Stepanuk
    Writer
  • Sofia Kogan
    Writer
  • Sofia Gubarev
    Producer
  • Sofia Kogan
    Producer
  • Sofia Gubarev
    Key Cast
    "Martha"
  • Arina Stepanuk
    DOP
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    Последнее письмо \ המכתב האחרון
  • Project Type:
    Experimental, Short, Student
  • Runtime:
    12 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    September 20, 2025
  • Production Budget:
    0 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Israel
  • Country of Filming:
    Israel
  • Language:
    Russian
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    Yes - Havat HaNoar HaTzioni
  • Tel Aviv International Student Film Festival

    Best Film - Youth Competition
  • Smadar Film Festival
    Jerusalem
    Israel
    January 13, 2026
    Official Selection
Director Biography - Michael Reichel

Michael Reichel (real name — Mikhail Dudov; born in 2005, Voronezh, Russia) is an Israeli director and 2D animator. He has worked as an animator on several animated series. Since 2020, he has led the creative association URI Animation, through which he creates original films.

His debut short animated films DEEP FOREST and MEAT HIT were successfully screened at numerous international film festivals, standing out for their distinctive visual style.

Since 2022, he has been living and working in Israel. He creates both animated and live-action films.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

This film was born from my personal reflection on the freedom of creativity and what it means to be an artist or a writer when the world around you constantly demands proof of your worth. Marta’s story — a young writer trapped in the cage of her own expectations and the need for external approval — is the story of anyone who has ever faced a creative crisis.

I was inspired by the idea that true creativity doesn’t come from the desire to please or to prove your value, but from an inner dialogue with yourself, from pain, joy, anger, and humility. I was especially influenced by the films of Lars von Trier, where characters are often confronted with their own fears, doubts, and inner demons, and where the process of making art becomes a fight for freedom — the freedom to be imperfect, to be honest, to be vulnerable.

At the heart of the film is a random encounter between Marta and a street pianist. This meeting reminds us that inspiration is not found in books or theories, but in live connection, in the sincere clash between two worlds — words and music. For me, this is a story about self-acceptance, about the idea that creativity is not a path toward recognition, but a path toward personal liberation.

With this film, I want to say: art begins where you stop being afraid of failure and start truly listening to yourself.