Mumbai: Deutsche Columbia Pictures Film Production, the local German production arm of Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE), is commencing pre-production on comedy Friendship. SPE is producing the feature with leading German producers Quirin Berg and Max Wiedemann. This was announced by Sony Pictures president Deborah Schindler.

Berg and Wiedemann have produced the Academy Award winning feature The Lives Of Others and the box office hit Rabbit Without Ears. Friendship will be directed by the prolific commercial director Markus Goller. The screenplay is by Oliver Ziegenbalg, while Matthais Schweighöfer will play the lead role of Kai.

Schindler stated, "By supporting a new director and young cast, along with accomplished award-winning producers, Friendship represents the kind of movie we want to support as part of our local language portfolio.

Berg and Wiedemann added, "We are thrilled to continue our relationship with Sony by partnering with Deborah Schindler and the talented creative team on Friendship. With the addition of Sony’s global marketing and distribution expertise, our goal of continuing to bring exciting and unique new stories and showcasing emerging German talent to a wider audience can be fulfilled."