“A Beautiful Trap” Nominated at the 2025 WSXA Amsterdam International Awards
I’m thrilled to share that my short AI film “A Beautiful Trap” has been officially nominated at the 2025 WSXA Amsterdam // International Awards, a global competition celebrating innovation in AI and XR-driven filmmaking.
This recognition places A Beautiful Trap among a diverse selection of projects showcased for their creative and sustainable use of emerging technologies. The festival highlights creators redefining visual storytelling through AI, and this year’s theme—Sustainable Filmmaking—aligns perfectly with the philosophy behind my work.
About the Film: “A Beautiful Trap”
A Beautiful Trap is an experimental AI short film that reflects on human struggles with escapism and entrapment. It follows a man descending into the depths, lured by illusions of freedom, only to realize that true escape begins when we face what drags us down.
The film unfolds in a surreal, underwater world where symbols of modern life—technology, distractions, and desires—transform into quiet metaphors for dependency. It’s a poetic reflection on how easily we mistake avoidance for liberation.
“Not every escape is freedom. Real freedom begins when we face what pulls us under.”
The project began as a purely visual experiment and evolved into a narrated journey. The voiceover doesn’t explain but guides—through the fall, the allure, and the revelation.
Sustainable AI Filmmaking
At its core, A Beautiful Trap is both a creative statement and an example of low-impact, sustainable filmmaking.
The entire film was produced using AI-driven tools—including Midjourney, Hailuo AI (MiniMax), MiniMax Audio, Google Veo 3, and Suno AI—with no physical production footprint.
No sets. No travel. No large crews. Just imagination and digital co-creation.
This approach mirrors WSXA’s mission to spotlight responsible innovation—proving that powerful stories can be told with minimal resources while still achieving emotional and cinematic depth.
About the WSXA Amsterdam International Awards
he WSXA Amsterdam competition brings together the worlds of AI, XR, and immersive storytelling, in collaboration with Hailuo AI and MiniMax.
Nominees are featured at the WSXA Amsterdam Online Festival in October and may also be screened during the ARFF Berlin in-person event in November.
The festival’s focus on sustainability, creativity, and collaboration between humans and AI reflects a vision I deeply connect with—where technology enhances storytelling rather than overshadowing it.
Explore the full nomination list here.
Director’s Reflection
With A Beautiful Trap, I wanted to explore the fine line between escape and entrapment—how what feels like relief can quietly become a cage.
AI became not only a visual tool but a metaphorical one—a mirror reflecting how we, too, navigate illusions and dependencies in our own lives.
This nomination at WSXA Amsterdam feels special because it recognizes not just the film’s artistic voice, but also its commitment to a more sustainable creative process.