A 20-minute movie by Dutch director Victoria Warmerdam titled Ik ben geen robot (I’m Not a Robot) has won an Oscar for Best Short Film. This is the first time a production from the Netherlands has won in this category.

Dutch short film I’m Not a Robot wins Oscar

I’m Not a Robot is a sci-fi comedy about a woman who begins to doubt her identity after failing a CAPTCHA test on her computer at work. The short film explores identity, feminism and the growing presence of AI with dark humour.

Only three Dutch short films have been nominated for an Academy Award in the past, all occurring in the 1960s. It is also the first time that someone from the Netherlands has won an award in this category.

Video: YouTube / The New Yorker

Oscar win boosts Dutch film industry

“This means so much to us, especially since no Dutch people have been nominated in this category since the 60s,” Warmedam and her partner and producer Trent told ANP. “So we were already super proud that we are here at all. To then also win, that is really unreal.”

The couple hopes that the Oscar win will boost the Dutch film industry and shine the spotlight on the many talented filmmakers in the Netherlands. Just last year, Dutch cinematographer Hoyte van Hoytema won a BAFTA for his camera work in the film Oppenheimer.

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