I'm Not a Robot (film)

Last updated

I'm Not a Robot
I'm Not a Robot film poster.jpg
Promotional poster
Dutch Ik ben geen robot
Directed by
  • Victoria Warmerdam
Written by
  • Victoria Warmerdam
Produced by
  • Henry Gillet
  • Wim Goossens
  • Trent
Starring
  • Ellen Parren
  • Henry van Loon
  • Thekla Reuten
  • Juliette van Ardenne
  • Asma El Mouden
CinematographyMartijn van Broekhuizen
Edited by
  • Michiel Boesveldt
Music byMerlijn Snitker
Production
company
OAK Motion Pictures
Distributed by The New Yorker
Release date
Running time
22 minutes
Countries
  • Belgium
  • Netherlands
Language
  • Dutch

I'm Not a Robot (Dutch : Ik ben geen robot) is a 2023 Dutch-language short science fiction film written and directed by Victoria Warmerdam. The film follows Lara, who after a series of failed CAPTCHA tests plunges into a strange new reality. [1] The film had its world premiere at the Netherlands Film Festival on September 23, 2023 in the Golden Calf Competition. [1]

Contents

On 23 January 2025, it was nominated for the Best Live Action Short Film at the 97th Academy Awards. [2] [3]

Plot

Lara Vermeulen, a Dutch music producer, is listening to a cover of Radiohead's "Creep" at work when a system update forces her to restart her laptop. The update presents her with a series of CAPTCHA tests, which she repeatedly fails despite inputting the correct answers. Frustrated, she calls tech support. The voice on the other end suggests that Lara can't get through because she is a robot, adding, "You wouldn't be the first to find out this way." The voice hangs up after refusing to assist Lara. After Lara fails more tests, she is redirected to another test that asks a series of arbitrary questions, including whether she feels like outsider and whether her partner is wealthy. When she confirms that her parents died in an accident when she was too young to remember them, the test responds that they most likely never existed. When she completes the test, the results conclude that there is an 87% chance she is a robot and welcome her to the "bot community". Disturbed, Lara leaves her desk.

Lara video-calls her boyfriend Daniël and tells him the result of the test. He awkwardly makes an excuse and ends the call. In a work meeting discussing affirmative action, Lara is distracted as she continually attempts to contact Daniël. He later visits her at work alongside a woman who introduces herself as Pam. Pam informs Lara that she is a robot, chosen by Daniël five years earlier to be his girlfriend. Daniël attempts to assure Lara that she still has emotions and autonomy, but she feels used and walks out to the roof of the nearby parking garage. Daniël goes after her, begging her not to throw away their relationship. He reveals that the only thing setting Lara apart from a human is that she is programmed to die shortly after Daniël does, since he was unwilling to mourn her "again." He says that she still has the freedom to leave him. Lara questions him about his deceased girlfriend Olivia and ponders what would happen if she attempted suicide. Pam appears and asserts that Lara is incapable of ending her life if Daniël doesn't want her to.

Desperate, Lara jumps from the roof of the parking garage. Hitting the ground, she begins to bleed out, but quickly regains consciousness. Credits roll as "Creep" plays again.

Cast

Release

The film had its world premiere at the 43rd Netherlands Film Festival on September 23, 2023 in the Golden Calf Competition. [1]

The film was also featured in Shorts at the 56th Sitges Film Festival in October 2023. [4]

The film was also featured in Shorts at the Leuven International Short Film Festival in December 2023. [5]

The film had its Australian premiere at the Flickerfest on 23 January 2024 in the Best Of International Shorts 4 – 2024. [6]

It was featured in the 42nd Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival in April 2024. [7]

The film had its California Premiere at the Palm Springs International Short Fest on 7 June 2024 in Who am I. [8]

It also competed in the 28th Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival in Bucheon Choice: Shorts in July 2024 and won Best Short Film award. [9] On 28 July 2024 it had its Canadian premiere at the 28th Fantasia International Film Festival. [10] [11]

It was also presented in the Oscar qualifying program in 'Modern Love' section of the Bend Film Festival on October 11, 2024, [12] [13]

The film was available for streaming on 15 November 2024 via YouTube and The New Yorker . [14]

Accolades

AwardDate of ceremonyCategoryRecipient(s)ResultRef.
Netherlands Film Festival 29 September 2023Best Leading Role Short FilmEllen ParrenNominated [1]
Sitges Film Festival 15 October 2023 Critic's Jury: Best Short Film in the SOFCI'm Not a RobotWon [4]
Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival 21 April 2024Silver MélièsWon [15]
Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival 14 July 2024Best Short FilmWon [16]
Academy Awards March 2, 2025 Best Live Action Short Film Victoria WarmerdamPending [2] [17]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "I'm Not a Robot" (in Dutch). Netherlands Film Festival . Retrieved 24 January 2025.
  2. 1 2 "The 97th Academy Awards | (2025)". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences . Retrieved 23 January 2025.
  3. ↑ González, David (23 January 2025). "Emilia Pérez leads the Oscar nominations". Cineuropa . Retrieved 24 January 2025.
  4. 1 2 "56th Edition Award Winners". Sitges Film Festival . Retrieved 24 January 2025.
  5. ↑ "Short Film Festival Leuven - I'm not a robot". Leuven International Short Film Festival (in Dutch). Retrieved 24 January 2025.
  6. ↑ "Best Of International Shorts 4 – 2024". Flickerfest . Retrieved 24 January 2025.
  7. ↑ "Palmares 2024 - BIFFF". Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival . 21 April 2024. Retrieved 24 January 2025.
  8. ↑ "I'm Not a Robot". Palm Springs International Film. Retrieved 24 January 2025.
  9. ↑ "I'm Not a Robot". Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival . 14 July 2024. Retrieved 24 January 2025.
  10. ↑ "All Films". Fantasia Festival. Retrieved 24 January 2025.
  11. ↑ "I'm Not a Robot". Fantasia International Film Festival . Retrieved 24 January 2025.
  12. ↑ "2024 Bend Film Festival: Oscar-Qualifying Short Film Programs Announced!". Bend Film Festival. 11 October 2024. Retrieved 24 January 2025.
  13. ↑ "2024 Bend Film Festival: I'm Not a Robot!". Bend Film Festival. 11 October 2024. Retrieved 24 January 2025.
  14. ↑ Victoria Warmerdam (15 November 2024). "A Woman Wonders if She's Human in "I'm Not a Robot"". The New Yorker . Retrieved 24 January 2025.
  15. ↑ "The winners of Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival 2024". Méliès International Festivals Federation . 21 April 2024. Retrieved 24 January 2025.
  16. ↑ "I'm Not a Robot wins at BIFAN". Eye Filmmuseum . 9 July 2024. Retrieved 24 January 2025.
  17. ↑ Lewis, Hilary (23 January 2025). "Oscars: Full List of Nominees". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved 24 January 2025.
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