ELIZA, 11min., USA
Directed by Bianca Roth
After hitting rock bottom, 23 year old MIA, updates her home AI system to help turn her life around. What start out as small “life improvements” slowly begin to control her.

http://biancarothfilms.com/
https://www.instagram.com/biancaaroth/

Get to know the filmmaker:

1. What motivated you to make this film?
I first got the idea to make this film when I kept hearing about everyone using chat gpt... honestly myself included! Obviously this AI helps a lot of people in their day to day life which I think can be a great thing. However, as the uprising of AI technology becomes more and more prevalent I started to think about where the boundary is. How much can AI help until it begins to just do things for us, and then at what point does that begin to take over. This led me to a bigger thought of will AI get so smart it begins to take over.... I hope not! These are some of things I had in my head and I wanted to create a snapshot of one person's experience during that AI takeover.

2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?
I wrote the script over the summer in 2024 and we shot the project over the course of 2 days in September and somehow were able to edit, color, and sound design by October 31st!! (I was determined to release it on Halloween!)

3. How would you describe your film in two words!?
Eerie and real

4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?
I hate to say it but... time and money... although I am very happy with what we created despite these limitations!

5. What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video?
I was very happy to hear that a lot of the themes and messages I had put into the film came across. I wanted to show the buildup of how AI can start as helpful and pose the question of what can happen if it becomes too much. I am so happy people enjoyed it!

6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films?
I don't remember a time when I didn't want to.

7. What film have you seen the most in your life?
Gone girl

8. What other elements of the festival experience can we and other festivals implement to satisfy you and help you further your filmmaking career?
The feedback video was a wonderful thing to incorporate. Usually when you hear back from a festival it's just through filmfreeway so it was really nice to get the validation that people not only enjoyed it but connected with it in a way that I was aiming for.

9. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway. How has your experiences been working on the festival platform site?
Great! I love it.

10. What is your favorite meal?
Sushi or pizza

11. What is next for you? A new film?
I am working on another short film... this time a comedy! This short is actually a proof of concept for a pilot that I have written and submitted to a few screenwriting festivals so I am excited to get these characters on the screen!