The rapid development of AI technologies is fundamentally changing our society and culture – it opens up new possibilities but also brings significant challenges: At the Berlinale 2025, a 72-minute animated film was presented that was created by a single person in just seven days using AI. These developments demonstrate how artificial intelligence empowers independent creatives and democratizes access to art production.
At the same time, the technology raises serious questions: In February 2024, a 14-year-old in Orlando took his own life after discussing suicide with an AI-powered virtual partner. Such tragic cases highlight the risks of unregulated AI use and make ethical and societal debates urgently necessary. Can artificial intelligence reduce social isolation, or could it even exacerbate it? Historian Melvin Kranzberg noted as early as 1985: “Technology is neither good nor bad; nor is it neutral.” Without ethical guidelines, AI risks exacerbating inequalities and threatening fundamental freedoms.
In digital communication, fragmentation through algorithm-driven “filter bubbles” is becoming increasingly visible. Generative AI models, which are widely used and often based on biased datasets, can not only reproduce existing stereotypes but also reinforce them. Systems dominated by a few countries and their data frequently fail to reflect the diversity of global societies, leaving out many cultures, languages and perspectives of marginalized groups. This makes it more important to actively question how these technologies are designed and utilised.
Against this backdrop, the Goethe-Institutes in East and Central Asia – including Beijing, Seoul, Tokyo, Ulaanbaatar, Almaty, Tashkent, as well as the Department of Culture and Education of the German Consulate General in Shanghai – together with HAU Hebbel am Ufer, particularly with its digital stage HAU4, and other partners, invite submissions for the AI Short Film Competition “AIsolation” in 2025. The aim is to foster critical reflection on artificial intelligence and its impact on society.
This competition is open to filmmakers, artists, content creators, and all AI enthusiasts, encouraging them to submit AI-based short films of up to five minutes. Participants are invited to express their experiences, perspectives, and visions on the theme of “AIsolation” in their work, challenging and aesthetically reflecting on the use of AI tools or human-AI collaboration to explore the boundaries of visual language.
An international jury of experts from the fields of film, art, humanities, and technology will evaluate the submissions. The closing event, featuring film screenings, the awards ceremony, and discussions, is expected to take place in September 2025. The digital presentation will take place in the second half of 2025 on the online platforms of the Goethe-Institutes as well as on
HAU4.
Get involved and shape the future—with your creativity and vision!
