A lonely man who feels disconnected from THE WORLD is suddenly accompanied by A HUMAN FORM OF artificial intelligence named FifiGPT, who QUICKLY becomes his companion, AND HELPER. As his reliance on IT grows and replaces his own agency, he is forced to confront what happens when that support disappears and he is left alone with himself again.
Filmmaker's Statement
The New Friend was influenced by my interest in artificial intelligence and the role it plays in our lives today. I believe AI can be incredibly useful and powerful when it is used correctly and in moderation. It allows people to expand on what they already know, learn more, and support their thinking. In that sense, AI can be a tool for growth. At the same time, I am concerned with how easily reliance can turn into dependence, especially when people begin to use AI to replace their own thinking.
When FifiGPT crashes and disappears, my protagonist is forced to confront what his life looks like without the extra support he became dependent on. To represent this visually, I made the decision to use two different aspect ratios to reflect the emotional and psychological shifts within the story. The film begins in a 2.39:1 aspect ratio, paired with a black and white palette to represent his emptiness and isolation before the AI enters his life. This cinematic framing reflects the heaviness and lack of purpose he experiences on his own. When FifiGPT appears, the aspect ratio shifts to 16:9, colour is introduced, and the visual tone becomes more playful and alive. This change mirrors the excitement and false sense of fulfillment that the AI brings into his life.
As the montage of their life together unfolds, I used colour and production design to show the passage of time and different seasons, including shifts into summer and Christmas. These changing palettes reflect how deeply integrated the AI becomes in his daily life. At the end of the film, when the AI crashes, the visual language returns to the original 2.39:1 aspect ratio, with darker colours, higher contrast, and reduced saturation, bringing the character back to himself, yet not entirely the same, as his life is no longer black and white.
Ultimately, this project is not meant to argue against artificial intelligence. It is about balance. It reflects my belief that the human mind is powerful, but only if we continue to use it. AI can either support growth or weaken our ability to think, depending on how we choose to engage with it.
Shot on RED
Edited AND COLOuRED on DaVinci Resolve
THE NEW FRIEND - CREDITS
Written, Directed & Edited by
Farida Ayad
CAST
FIFIGPT
Lumi Simola
Ryan
Iky
CREW
Director of Photography
Xavier Caudill
First Assistant Camera
Vlas Kostychev
Gaffer
Sabiné Bastian
Key Grip
Pierce Brian Brown
Produced at
New York Film Academy - Los Angeles