Festival Season:
March 2026
INSTINCT
Directors:
Writers:
Chad Lee
Chad Lee
Producers:
Run Time:
0:04:12
Awarded for the following Category(s):
Awarded Category(s)
A robot cat hunts a mouse in a dystopian wasteland, only to discover they are identical creations destined to destroy each other.
Submitter Statement
I wrote this film in 1996, imagining a future where artificial life outlived humanity. Though designed to be superior, these machines repeat the same destructive patterns. Bringing it to life decades later using AI tools reinforced that idea—different outputs from the same seed. The film questions whether destruction is instinctual, or something that can be changed.
Chad Lee is a Creative Director with over 25 years in the video game industry, known for crafting immersive, story-driven experiences. He wrote and produced the 1998 short film The Dentist, which earned Best Character recognition. His work explores tension, conflict, and the human instincts that persist—even beyond humanity.
Key Cast
Other Credits