I’m Not a Robot (Ik ben geen robot) 2023 Short Film

Watch I’m Not a Robot’ (Ik ben geen robot) 2023, a witty Comedy/Sci-Fi Academy Award winner for Best Live Action Short Film by Victoria Warmerdam. Explore the humorous side of AI and human identity.

🤖 I’m Not a Robot (Ik ben geen robot, 2023) — Comedy/Sci‑Fi Short Film by Victoria Warmerdam

What starts as a quirky workplace inconvenience spirals into an existential identity crisis in I’m Not a Robot, the 22‑minute Dutch short that blends absurdist comedy with Black Mirror‑style unease. Written and directed by Victoria Warmerdam, this Belgian–Dutch co‑production turns a mundane CAPTCHA test into a surreal interrogation of what makes us human — and what happens when the system decides we’re not.

🧭 Overview

Genre: Comedy / Drama / Sci‑Fi / Satire
Director & Writer: Victoria Warmerdam
Producers: Henry Gillet, Wim Goossens, Trent
Cast:
- Ellen Parren as Lara 🖥️
- Henry van Loon as Daniël
- Thekla Reuten as Pam
- Juliette van Ardenne, Asma El Mouden, Sophie Höppener, Sieger Sloot
Cinematography: Martijn van Broekhuizen 🎥
Editor: Michiel Boesveldt
Music: Merlijn Snitker 🎼
Production companies: OAK Motion Pictures · The Y‑House · Bulletproof Cupid
Distributor: The New Yorker
Runtime: 22 minutes
Languages: Dutch (with English subtitles)
Premiere: 23 September 2023 — Netherlands Film Festival
Streaming: Released on The New Yorker’s YouTube channel, November 2024
Awards: 🏆 Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film (2025) — first Dutch short to win

Watch full short:

📖 Story in Brief

Lara, a music producer, is at her desk listening to Scala & Kolacny Brothers’ haunting cover of Creep 🎶 when her laptop demands a system update. No big deal… until the update triggers a series of CAPTCHA tests — the “click all the traffic lights” kind — which she inexplicably fails again and again.

Frustrated, she calls tech support. The voice on the other end casually suggests she might actually be a robot, adding, “You wouldn’t be the first to find out this way.” 😳

From there, the tests get weirder:

Questions about her childhood, relationships, and whether her parents ever existed.
A final verdict: 87% chance she’s a robot — “Welcome to the bot community.”

Her boyfriend Daniël reacts awkwardly, then introduces her to Pam, who confirms Lara is indeed a robot — chosen by Daniël five years ago to be his girlfriend. Daniël insists she still has emotions and autonomy, but Lara feels betrayed.

The film builds to a rooftop confrontation: love, identity, and free will hanging in the balance.

🎨 Creative DNA & Style

Absurdism meets realism: The premise is fantastical, but the office politics, awkward silences, and relationship beats feel painfully real.
Deadpan humor: Ellen Parren plays Lara with a perfect mix of confusion, sarcasm, and quiet heartbreak.
Muted, modern palette: The visuals mirror the sterile, algorithmic world Lara is suddenly trapped in.
Satirical edge: Pokes fun at bureaucracy, tech culture, and the way we outsource identity checks to machines.
Pacing: Starts slow and relatable, then tilts into surreal territory without losing emotional grounding.

✅ Pros & ❌ Cons

Pros

🎯 High‑concept hook: Turns a universal annoyance into a fresh sci‑fi premise.
😂 Sharp comedy: Balances laughs with genuine pathos.
🎭 Strong performances: Parren’s Lara anchors the absurdity in human emotion.
🏆 Historic Oscar win: First Dutch short to take home the prize.

Cons

⏳ Short runtime: Leaves you wanting more exploration of the “bot community.”
🌀 Ambiguity: Doesn’t fully explain the tech or rules — which some will love, others not.

🌟 Themes & Resonance

Identity in the digital age: What defines us when algorithms decide who we are.
Love & autonomy: Can a relationship survive if one partner’s humanity is questioned?
Bureaucratic absurdity: The cold logic of systems that don’t care about nuance.
Self‑perception vs. external labels: How quickly doubt can erode certainty.

👥 Who Is It For?

Fans of satirical sci‑fi: Viewers who enjoy Black Mirror, Upload, or Severance.
Comedy lovers: Those who appreciate dry, awkward humor with a bite.
Festival audiences: Short‑form storytelling that’s clever, timely, and conversation‑worthy.

💡 Humanized Takeaway

I’m Not a Robot 2023 short film is funny until it isn’t — and that’s its genius. Warmerdam uses a silly premise to sneak in big questions about love, trust, and the fragility of identity in a world where even your humanity can be “verified” by a checkbox.

🔍 Find More & Watch

Watch on The New Yorker’s YouTube channel — full short film with subtitles.
Wikipedia entry on I’m Not a Robot — full synopsis, cast, and production details.
IMDb page for I’m Not a Robot — credits, reviews, and trivia.

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