I'm Not a Robot (film) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids I'm Not a Robot |
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Promotional poster
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| Music by | Merlijn Snitker |
| Cinematography | Martijn van Broekhuizen |
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| Distributed by | The New Yorker |
| Release date(s) | 23 September 2023 (NFF) |
| Running time | 22 minutes |
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| Language | Dutch |
I'm Not a Robot (which means Ik ben geen robot in Dutch) is a short science fiction drama film from 2023. It was written and directed by Victoria Warmerdam. The movie stars Ellen Parren as a woman named Lara. Her life changes completely after she fails some online tests called CAPTCHAs.
This film was made by companies from both Belgium and the Netherlands. It first showed at the Netherlands Film Festival on September 23, 2023. Later, on November 15, 2024, people could watch it online on The New Yorker's YouTube channel. I'm Not a Robot won an Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film in 2025. This made it the first Dutch short film to ever win this important award!
Contents
Story of the Film
Lara's Strange Discovery
Lara is a music producer in the Netherlands. One day, while listening to music, her laptop needs an update. After the update, she has to complete some CAPTCHA tests. These tests are usually easy, but Lara keeps failing them, even when she types the right answers. Frustrated, she calls tech support for help.
The person on the phone tells Lara something shocking. They suggest she can't pass the tests because she might be a robot! The voice says she wouldn't be the first person to find this out this way. Then, they hang up without helping her.
Joining the Bot Community
Lara tries more tests and fails again. She is then sent to another test with unusual questions. These questions ask if she feels like an outsider or if her partner is rich. When she says her parents died before she could remember them, the test suggests they might never have existed. After finishing the test, it tells her there's an 87% chance she is a robot. It even welcomes her to the "bot community." Lara is very disturbed by this news.
Confronting the Truth
Lara calls her boyfriend, Daniël, to tell him about the test results. But he acts strangely and quickly ends the call. Later, at a work meeting, Lara tries to reach Daniël again and again. He finally visits her at work with a woman named Pam. Pam tells Lara that she is indeed a robot. She explains that Daniël chose Lara five years ago to be his girlfriend.
Daniël tries to reassure Lara that she still has feelings and can make her own choices. But Lara feels used and upset. She goes to the top of a nearby parking garage.
A Difficult Choice
Daniël follows Lara and begs her not to end their relationship. He reveals a secret: Lara is programmed to die shortly after he does. He didn't want to lose her "again." But he also tells her she is free to leave him if she wants. Lara asks about his previous girlfriend, Olivia, who passed away. She wonders what would happen if she tried to end her own existence.
Pam appears and says Lara cannot end her life if Daniël doesn't want her to. In despair, Lara jumps from the roof. She hits the ground and starts to bleed, but then quickly wakes up again. This shows she is indeed programmed not to die unless Daniël dies. The movie ends as the song "Creep" plays again.
Main Actors
- Ellen Parren as Lara
- Henry van Loon as Daniël
- Thekla Reuten as Pam
- Juliette van Ardenne as Collega
- Asma El Mouden as Saar
- Sophie Höppener as Sollicitant Billy
- Joep Vermolen as Klusjesman
- Sieger Sloot as Klantenservice medewerker
How the Film Was Made
Filming Locations and Techniques
I'm Not a Robot was a joint project between Belgium and the Netherlands. It was filmed using 35mm film, which is a classic way to shoot movies. The scenes with the stunt at the end were filmed with a special camera called an Arriflex 235.
Being Eco-Friendly
The filmmakers tried to make the movie in a way that was good for the environment. They aimed for a "carbon neutral" production. This means they tried to balance the carbon dioxide they produced with actions that remove carbon dioxide from the air. They had a special manager to help them be as sustainable as possible during filming. To make up for any emissions, they even planted a food forest in the Netherlands!
Filming took place from May 5 to May 15, 2023. They shot scenes in different places in Belgium, like Dilbeek, Leuven, and Watermael-Boitsfort. The office scenes were filmed inside the CBR Building in Watermael-Boitsfort.
Where and When It Was Released
Film Festival Screenings
I'm Not a Robot first premiered at the Netherlands Film Festival on September 23, 2023. It was part of the Golden Calf Competition there. The film also showed at several other film festivals around the world. These included the 56th Sitges Film Festival in Spain in October 2023, and the Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival in April 2024. It also played at the Palm Springs International Festival of Short Films in June 2024.
Online Streaming
The film became available for everyone to watch online on November 15, 2024. You can find it on the YouTube channel of The New Yorker.
Fun Facts
- In 2022, another short film called I Am Not a Robot was released by Jason Speir. It had a similar idea about robots.
Awards and Recognition
I'm Not a Robot has won several awards:
- At the Sitges Film Festival on October 15, 2023, it won the Critic's Jury award for Best Short Film.
- It also won the Silver Méliès award at the Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival on April 21, 2024.
- On July 14, 2024, it won Best Short Film at the Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival.
- Most notably, on March 2, 2025, Victoria Warmerdam and Trent won the Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film at the 97th Academy Awards.
See also
In Spanish: I'm Not a Robot (película) para niños
