Aadhya is a young woman who recalls her toxic relationship with her girlfriend, Eve, after their recent breakup. Living in a self-imposed isolation, Aadhya has to learn how to come to terms with her new life without Eve. 'Poisonous' is a short film shot at NFTS (National Film and TV School in UK) as part of a 2-day workshop where it was assembled with DoPs and Production Designers in one day and shoot the next. This intense and immersive process pushed the filmmaking team to make quick yet meaningful creative decisions, which only deepened the connection to the story of Aadhya and her journey of self-discovery.

The director Roxanna Stroe notes: 'The film delves into the nuances of a toxic relationship between two women, shedding light on the emotional complexities that are often overlooked in queer narratives. Aadhya's experience isn't just a breakup, it's a confrontation with her own sense of self-worth and identity after being left by someone she once loved. In mainstream media, we often see queer relationships romanticised or fetishised, but rarely do we get to explore the darker, messier sides of them that are just as real.This story was inspired by the idea of how easy it is to lose oneself in the name of love, especially as a woman navigating societal expectations around relationships. Aadhya's journey of reclaiming her autonomy is a reflection of many women's experiences of rediscovering themselves after the end of a relationship where their boundaries were blurred.Creating 'Poisonous' was an opportunity to collaborate with a team that understood the importance of crafting a safe space to explore such intimate and painful themes. The collaborative spirit of the workshop was not just about building a set, but also about building trust among the crew to bring a raw, authentic story to life. In that sense, it became not just a film project, but a statement of reclaiming narrative control, especially for underrepresented voices in cinema.Girls in Film has always been a platform that celebrates diverse female perspectives in filmmaking, and I hope that 'Poisonous' contributes to that mission by highlighting the emotional resilience of women as they navigate their way out of toxic environments. My hope is that viewers, women in particular, find a sense of solidarity in Aadhya's story and are reminded that there is strength in vulnerability and power in walking away.'