The technology meant to simplify humanity’s way of life and offer them instant gratification can ultimately complicate their overall existence. The new animated short, ‘Quota,’ offers a poignant commentary on our dependency on such technology.

The latest animated film from the Dutch studio Job, Joris & Marieke, explores people’s careless attitude towards the environment. Many people disregard the clear signs that emphasize extreme measures that should be taken to reverse the devastating consequences of climate change.

‘Quota’ was directed by Job Roggeveen, Joris Oprins and Marieke Blaauw, the filmmakers of the Oscar-nominated animated short, ‘A Single Life.’ Their new three-minute movie, which is presented in English, features the voices of Carice van Houten, Lucas Tepper and Jonathan Barnett.

‘Quota’ depicts a world in which everyone must directly confront the impact of their actions on the environment. To do so, they much install and maintain an app on their phones that tracks the carbon footprint of everything they do.

The movie screened at this month’s Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), where it received an honorable mention for the Best International Short Film award. It screened as part of the Short Cuts 2024 Programme 5. The section had its first screening yesterday, September 10, and will have its second screening this Saturday, September 14 at Toronto’s Scotiabank Theatre.

Roggeveen and Oprins generously took the time to talk about helming ‘Quota’ yesterday before its first TIFF screening during an exclusive interview over Zoom. Among other things, the filmmakers discussed how they split the directorial duties on the project together; their approach to animating the movie; and what it means to them that the short is screening at TIFF.

Watch the interview with Roggeveen and Oprins in the above video.