Private Project

New Human

On a planet wrought by the devastating effects of climate change, one of the last humans on Earth grapples with the unsettling idea that her robot clone may be humanity's best hope of survival.

  • Catherina Cojulun
    Director
  • Catherina Cojulún
    Writer
  • Kiley Giard
    Writer
  • Axel Cojulún
    Producer
  • David Cortez
    Producer
  • Frida Villeda
    Key Cast
    "Gwen / G-8"
  • Mike Sears
    Key Cast
    "Jude"
  • Lucas Williams
    Cinematographer
  • Daniel Walter
    Composer
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Sci Fi, Drama
  • Runtime:
    14 minutes 42 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    March 31, 2025
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    RED
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
  • Brooklyn Sci-Fi Film Festival
    Brooklyn, New York
    United States
    October 6, 2025
    Official Selection
  • San Diego Latino Film Festival
    San Diego
    March 19, 2026
    Official Selection
  • Oceanside International Film Festival
    Oceanside
    United States
    Best Actress in a Leading Role// Nominee for Best Supporting Actor// Nominee for Best Overall Narrative Short // Nominee for Best Screenplay // Nominee for Best Art Direction
  • Berlin Sci-Fi Film Festival
    Berlin
    Germany
    October 25, 2025
    International Premiere
  • San Diego Film Week
    San Diego
    United States
    November 8, 2025
    Best Sci-Fi
  • The Great Film Festival
    Los Angeles
    United States
    August 24, 2025
    Official Selection
  • Hidden City Film Festival
    Escondido, CA
    United States
    September 26, 2025
    Audience Award,Nominee for Best Cinematography
  • Hemet Film Festival
    Hemet
    United States
    November 2, 2025
    Official Selection
Director Biography - Catherina Cojulun

Catherina Cojulún is an editor and director based in San Diego. Originally set to direct New Human as her thesis film, the project was halted during the pandemic, leading her to focus on growing her freelance career. She has edited and colored for PBS series, indie features, and shorts including "Fou" and "Song is a Spell". The completion of "New Human" earlier this year signals a bold return to her original vision, embracing her motto that “the real is surreal.”

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

The idea for "New Human" first sparked in 2019. Alongside my co-writer, Kiley Giard, we asked:
"What if, in the future, humanity had destroyed Earth to the point where it was no longer inhabitable and artificial intelligence beings were sent to restore it? What if it was our responsibility to teach these beings how to 'be human'?"
This scenario felt distant 6 years ago, but having experienced the rapid advangement of Al technologies like chatGPT and the isolation that comes from global pandemics, today this imaged
scenario feels closer than ever. Moreso, history shows our tendency to exploit, scour, and consume the planet with little regard for sustainability. At some point, the thriving blue Earth we once knew will be no more. I hope this imagined future never becomes reality...but what it does?
At its core, this cautionary tale is about sacrifice, purpose, and what it truly means to be human. It's also a metaphor for self love, with the robot serving a s a mirror to its human counterpart. In this world, humans created robots in their own image to ease their guilt over abandoning the planet.
What does that say about us as a species? We've let technology do the hard work that we never
had the courage to take on ourselves.
Our protagonist begins to wonder if humans still deserve its place in the universe. Standing before her is something born in her image yet far more intelligent, responsible, and capable than she could ever be — a being that might just help save the new planet, not by being human, but by being something better.
With this story, I hope we reflect not only on the choices humanity makes but also the ones we make for ourselves. If Gwen can learn to love and sacrifice for something that reflects her, perhaps there's hope for us to see value in our reflections, both as individuals and as caretakers of our planet...
Before it's too late.