The Surreal Identity Crisis of “I’m Not a Robot” (Oscar Shortlisted) | The New Yorker Screening Room

Hello everyone! This is Victoria Warmerdam, the writer and director of I’m Not a Robot, and Trent, its producer. Our short film tells the story of Lara, a music producer who spirals into an existential crisis after repeatedly failing a CAPTCHA test—leading her to question whether she might actually be a robot. Through a dark comedic lens, we explore themes of identity, self-determination, love, and technology in a world where the line between humanity and artificial intelligence is becoming increasingly blurred. We’d love to hear your thoughts and are happy to answer any questions in the coming days. Thank you for watching—we hope you enjoy I’m Not a Robot!🤖

This is the same way I found out that I was a bot.

Very much looking forward to the next chapter

Impressive acting!

Existentialism

Twilight Zone episode "The Lateness of the Hour" (even took the bit about not having early memories, but gave it a slight twist)

Wow, I’ve watched many Oscar-qualifying shorts this year—it’s a hobby of mine—but this one truly stands out. So subtle, smart, and full of tension, it even feels shorter than its 22 minutes, while most shorts tend to feel too long. Kudos to everyone involved, and I’m really hoping you make it to the Oscar shortlist. You’d have my vote!

Brilliant on every level. Very entertaining. Thank you.

I love sci fi and quirkiness. I just found out that I'm a robot, so, well played.

Are robots trans?

She must be a robot.. who uses the speakerphone in public?? Psychopath.

The most unbelievable element was the idea that customer service would exist for this.

And this passes for a film?

It seems like she clicked on all the correct Captcha images.
Why was she rejected?

How lovely to have decided on impulse to watch this short film posted by the New Yorker and it just so happens to be in a language I speak. Mooie filmpje! Ik kijk uit na de feature film :)

You could not have paired the music more perfectly using Creep. The chorus to that song ‘I don’t belong here’ is absolutely haunting.

Why are all the vulgarities in English?

Great film , it’s a growing concern for me how much technology is defining the meaning of our lives. The tail wagging the dog phenomenon.

Only at death do we actually realise what life is.

Hooked me in really quickly and then explored a lot of areas related to what it means to be human. I’ll think of this brilliant shirt when I am caught in a CAPTCHA.

these turning tests are getting quite involved .

Nicely done.

Unusual and well done.

I don't think this is the problem with robots. The real problem might be that robots could be used to make things even harder to access, and to shut humans out of services, rights, transportation, whatever. Humans are hard enough to debate with, when they have orders, but robots just function, and badly at that, even now the real horror is the captcha & the talk-bot in the hotline, & the roboterized humans in the hotline & real humans losing power over everyday life if there is a glitch in the tech somewhere..

Maybe she wasn’t the robot

Love means never having to say you're a bot.

ouch!

Fantastic!

Wow, this is darkly comedic but also highly relevant. The more I read through the comments, the deeper I began to understand and interpret the implications for us. Thank you for expanding my awareness. In the previous comments, the word "autonomy" is used but I submit that Lara is a slave.

Beautiful cinematography, sound, direction and acting. Love how the story is strong enough to not rely on special effects or ridiculous fight scenes. Great job!

Wow, can’t get this flick out of my head! Thanks!

Superb

PLease win an Oscar 😍

Lame

Creepy and disturbing.

The concept isn't surreal, it's ridiculous. Developing such a story, producing a film out of it and promoting borders on.... This is the level to which a once great magazine has fallen.

Excellent!! 🖤🩶🤎💜💚💙🩵❤️🩷🧡💛🤍

I have a question. Sorry, maybe I didn't get all the nuances, or maybe my question is out of order, but... was she really a bot? 🙄

Time for an embargo on Scala & Kolacny's cover of "Creep" in film.

We’re all robots lol. We recycle here in this realm over and over again without any memories.
But I’m a creep. I’m an angel.

So being a bot is a newer way of saying NPC ..

I love the story! It pulled me in immediately - I especially loved how CAPTCHA foreshadowed her identity.

Por favor traduzcanla al español!!!!!, gracias, muy buen cortometraje.

I saw this at the The Strand in Vicksburg Mississippi as part of the Manhattan Short Film Festival. Great film. “I am a person” is such a great line in the context of the scene.

The question the end of the film brought to me is that although she can’t choose between life and death can her choices have other consequences?

I saw this at the The Strand in Vicksburg Mississippi as part of the Manhattan Short Film Festival. Great film. “I am a person” is such a great line in the context of the scene.

Superb. Very well done. In every respect!
Thank you.

When she started bleeding, I thought making her believe she’s a bot was a way to control a human woman. But it eventually drove her to madness and self-destruction.

Amazing, thanks for sharing. I discovered this film through ChatGPT, didn’t expect it to be recent!