Against the backdrop of the 2065 Olympic eSports final, AIDOL, with its ideas on human versus artificial intelligence, the power of megacorporations and the value of creativity, is set in a computer-generated gaming world. Our avatar is Diva, a superstar who is bereft of hits and engages an artificial intelligence to stage her comeback during the final.

As in Lawrence Lek’s previous film Geomancer from 2017, the plot is of secondary importance, merely providing a trail for ideas to follow. The camera is on Diva in this futuristic, partly recognisable – jungle, temples, stadium – and partly abstract, alternative universe. By making the Bios battle the Synths in the final as man vs. machine, the film reflects on the rise of artificial intelligence, but also on typically human idiosyncrasies such as the desire for fame. 

Also see IFFR x STRP: AI & Creativity.

Director
Lawrence Lek
Country of production
United Kingdom
Year
2019
Festival Edition
IFFR 2020
Length
83'
Medium
DCP
Languages
English, Chinese
Producer
Lawrence Lek
Sales
Lawrence Lek
Screenplay
Lawrence Lek
Cinematography
Lawrence Lek
Editor
Andre Corsini, Clifford Sage
Sound Design
Seth Scott
Music
Lawrence Lek
Cast
Nie Xiaoyi, Joni Zhu, Steve Goodman, Sophie Guo, Wu Xiaoran, Lu Minglong
Website
https://lawrencelek.com
Director
Lawrence Lek
Country of production
United Kingdom
Year
2019
Festival Edition
IFFR 2020
Length
83'
Medium
DCP
Languages
English, Chinese
Producer
Lawrence Lek
Sales
Lawrence Lek
Screenplay
Lawrence Lek
Cinematography
Lawrence Lek
Editor
Andre Corsini, Clifford Sage
Sound Design
Seth Scott
Music
Lawrence Lek
Cast
Nie Xiaoyi, Joni Zhu, Steve Goodman, Sophie Guo, Wu Xiaoran, Lu Minglong
Website
https://lawrencelek.com