Much has changed in the world we live in recent years. A world event took us by surprise and put the global human societies into a critical “pause” mode where we experienced a public health disaster collectively, together yet in isolation. Technological advancement at lightning speed radically changed our daily lives intellectually, culturally, and socially with the omnipresence of AI and automation. What is real? What is fake? And what matters? Are authenticity, originality and intuition still noble qualities in today’s society? Do we cherish or conceal the expression of genuine human thoughts, feelings and emotions? Are we fascinated by natural beauty with flaws,  chaos and uncertainties, or artificial beauty with perfection? The world is increasingly driven by mechanization where you order food at restaurants with QR codes; chat with Siri and Alexa; and form your business team with OpenAI. Maybe we shall take a moment and ponder again, perhaps, the essence of “being human” in this era.

KLEX 2024: Being Human received 76 submissions through its international open call from around the world, including short films from Asia, Australia, Europe, North and South America. It is a fruitful experience to watch films from many different regions, investigating a vast spectrum of subject matters related to “being human”, and encompassing a variety of artistic approaches. The selection process was challenging, the curatorial team however came to agree upon a selection of 33 finalists’ films in which we’re showing at the festival. We hope that you enjoy them!