I'm Not a Robot

Directed by: Victoria Warmerdam

Principal Cast: Ellen Parren, Henry van Loon, Thekla Reuten

Country: The Netherlands

Time: 22:00

Synopsis: A woman repeatedly fails a computer security test. Suddenly, her humanity is called into question.

What inspired the idea for I'm Not a Robot?

The idea for the short film came to me after repeatedly failing CAPTCHAs - those tests on websites that ask you to identify images to prove you're human. I started to wonder, what if this is how I discover I'm actually a robot? The thought made me laugh at first, but then my imagination took a darker turn. What if you began to suspect that your own partner bought you as a robot? What if your life - and your relationship - turns out not to be real?

What films did you reference before making the film?

While I'm Not a Robot is a dark comedy, I wanted the cinematography to highlight the drama rather than the comedy. My DP, Martijn van Broekhuizen, and I drew much of our inspiration from the eerie atmosphere of the psychological thriller series Homecoming (Season 1, created by Sam Esmail). For the overall design, we were inspired by a nostalgia for vintage and retro aesthetics, which contrasts with the fast-changing sci-fi world.

Ellen Parren is excellent in the lead role. How did you come across her?

Ellen had been on my radar for a long time due to her brilliant timing and her ability to approach comedy with such seriousness. Even before there was a script, I asked if she'd be interested in me writing this film for her. She was, and I had the luxury of tailoring the script specifically for her. When we began working together, I discovered that we share the same sensibilities. It's a real pleasure to be able to work with someone who understands you with just a few words. I am just so proud of Ellen, she is such a talented actress and she is such a beautiful human being.

The film has played a magnitude of Festivals winning several awards, has the response surprised you?

When I put a lot of time, effort, and love into making a short film, I'm not focused on winning awards; I just don't want to mess it up. But I won't lie - it feels amazing to have your hard work recognized through festival selections and awards. I'm thrilled and grateful that the MANHATTAN SHORT Film Festival selection will allow us to reach a much larger audience.

Do you believe this is our future?

When I think about our future with AI, I freak out a little. Like most people reacting to rapid technological advancements, I feel both an irrepressible curiosity about artificial intelligence and a fear of it. These fears include personal concerns, like AI rendering my creative work obsolete, and broader societal anxieties, such as the potential misuse of robot armies to devastate populations. As much as we like to ascribe human characteristics to AI, we still want it to be different from us. Maybe out of fear, maybe because we feel superior, or both. We cling to the idea that we are irreplaceable. But what if we're not?