By Valerie Milano
Palm Springs, CA (The Hollywood Times) – Patricia Beckmann Wells’ The AI Fairytale Mombomb, Part 1 is an animated short that defies conventional storytelling with its sharp wit, bold visuals, and thought-provoking take on artificial intelligence and motherhood. A Slamdance selection, the film marks a fascinating entry into the ongoing conversation about AI’s growing influence on human identity, autonomy, and the roles we play in society.
Click below for our exclusive interview:
At its core, Mombomb! is both a satire and a warning, wrapped in an eccentric, visually arresting package. Drawing from personal experience, Wells reveals the film’s haunting inspiration. “I encountered a gentleman who tried to get me into his car and luckily, I escaped… I was one of the first people that they tried to kidnap. And I got away. His face was imprinted on my mind, and I would recognize him anywhere.”
This real-life trauma informs the narrative, where AI and human relationships collide in unpredictable ways, exploring themes of creation, control, and the blurred lines between nurture and programming. Wells, known for her unique ability to blend humor with social critique, crafts a world that is at once absurdly futuristic and eerily relevant.
The animation style mirrors the film’s unconventional approach, with surreal imagery and an aesthetic that feels both retro and cutting-edge. It evokes a sense of nostalgia while simultaneously pushing the boundaries of digital storytelling. The character designs and settings are exaggerated, reinforcing the film’s satirical edge.
Perhaps the most compelling aspect of Mombomb! is its commentary on motherhood in the age of AI. In a world where technology is rapidly redefining human roles, the film asks: What happens when artificial intelligence starts to take over traditionally human functions, including the most intimate and essential ones, like caregiving? It’s a question that feels especially relevant in an era where AI is creeping into creative and emotional labor.
Wells emphasizes the film’s therapeutic undertones. “The overall message is how to self-heal… Accepting trauma into your life, that it is a natural human condition. We’re going to have it. It’s going to happen to us. And we need to prepare ourselves for it.”
This message resonates particularly strongly in Part 1 of what is presumably a larger narrative, Mombomb! leaves audiences with more questions than answers—but that’s precisely its strength. It challenges viewers to think critically about the technological future we are hurtling toward while entertaining them with its offbeat humor and striking visuals.
Wells has crafted a film that is as funny as it is unsettling, a reminder that the best sci-fi doesn’t just predict the future—it interrogates it. With The AI Fairytale Mombomb, Part 1, she delivers a film that is as imaginative as it is urgent. One can only hope that Part 2 will continue to push the boundaries of this wildly inventive story.
Mombomb, part 1 is among five films that will compete in the festival’s AI category on March 21st.
Day 2 – QFX Chhaya Center – Third Show | Nepal International Film Festival
Created using over a dozen AI in a unique pipeline, the story is Beckmann Wells’ personal experience in her youth with a pair of serial killers and her ensuing lifelong regret. Based on real events, the feminist comedy horror series explores inter-generational trauma and memory through the eyes of the daughter of WWII immigrants. The 12-part series is being developed into a feature film, with several episodes already completed.
“I am truly honored that Mombomb was named an official selection at such a prestigious international film festival, as one of five films created using the tools of AI,” comments Beckmann Wells. “Mombomb is the story of our survival through fantasy, and through AI, my aim is to help teach those facing obstacles and challenges to remain strong and steadfast during difficult times.“
Official Trailer: https://vimeo.com/
In Mombomb, Girl Scout Pez’s life is a modern fairy tale, but unfortunately a fairy tale inspired by The Brothers Grimm … and when the killer troll from under the bridge comes to harvest young girls, a girl scout must use her cookies to kill. Pez is a weaponized girl scout in Toledo, Ohio, a breeding ground of serial killers in the 70s. She and her friends are growing up before the internet is available and she must learn how to survive when her mother, who was hunted by soldiers in World War II, refuses to believe the great American dream is corrupt. As Pez discovers her strengths, and her mother’s weaknesses, she finds out why squirrels run in front of speeding cars and how that is stopped by teaching them the girl power of domestic duties and revenge.
Beckmann Wells comments on what inspired her to make the series. She explains, “I was stalked by serial killers who murdered several people in my small-town neighborhood. My community did not share these stories with the children. We learned about the killings through campfire stories. To us they were not real. I grew up in Toledo, Ohio before the internet. I did not know the two men following me were serial killers or the reality of the murders in my neighborhood until my parents were gone. I survived because my mother told me stories from The Brothers Grimm. I was trained to expect the boogie man. Other children were trained by Sesame Street. They knew their alphabet but had never thought to practice capping the knees of a killer. My mother did not believe me. She thought I was trying to get attention. She stopped telling me stories of the war. Then the neighbors began disappearing. One of the convicted serial killer brothers was released from prison in 2018. The other brother has a hearing for his release in March 2025.”
This month, Mombomb, Part 1 was also an official selection of the Austin AI Festival and the RPM In Motion Festival in Boston.
To date, Mombomb has achieved accolades on the global festival circuit, receiving Best in Creative AI at Qld XR in Brisbane, Australia; Best Animated Short Film at STUFF MX in Mexico City; Runner Up Best Story at Metamorph Film Award in Fort Lauderdale, Florida; Best Visual Effects at AI Artist in Peking, China; AI Program 1.0 at Tirana International Film Festival in Albania; and the Grand Prix at Courant3D in Aunguleme, France.
Mombomb, Part 1 (USA)
Director: Patricia Beckmann Wells
Producer: Patricia Beckmann Wells
Girl Scout Pez’s life is a modern fairy tale, but it was written by The Brothers Grimm … and when the killer troll from under the bridge comes to harvest young girls, a girl scout must use her cookies to kill.
Cast: Patricia Beckmann Wells
About Patricia Beckmann Wells – Patricia Beckmann Wells was one of eight female-identifying directors chosen for Lunafest, sponsored by Luna Bars, and her film Family Tale traveled nationally with Lunafest raising money for breast cancer. Her film Propolis, Part 7 premiered at Slamdance in Park City, Utah in 2019. Beckmann Wells’ career includes executive leadership roles at Dreamworks SKG, where she also co-led the build of the Bangalore studios, and Walt Disney Animation Studios responsible for art asset pipeline development and training, and artist roles at Warner Brothers Digital, Film Roman, and ITE Denmark, among others. She now works independently as a content creator at her studio, Bunsella films, a virtual production studio and stage with facilities in both Los Angeles and Glendale. She is an expert in artificial intelligence enhanced pipelines coupled with virtual production techniques and game engine integration. Mombomb, part 1 is the first of 12 episodes, and two more episodes are currently ready for festival entry. She is the author of ‘Face It: A Visual Reference for Multi-ethnic Facial Modeling.’ Her expertise has led to roles as a consultant for the Epic Games Unreal Metahuman project and speaking engagements with Pixar and SIGGRAPH on informed ethnic Identity in character design using forensic evidence and markers on skulls gathered from around the world. Recently, she was invited to speak at the AgBO + Slamdance summer showcase hosted by the Russo Brothers (Everything Everywhere All At Once) as a member of the featured round-table discussion of ‘AI and independent filmmaking’.
Beckmann Wells’ animated films have participated in over 200 festivals, including Slamdance, Lunafest, Tirana International Film Festival, Artefact AI film festival with MK2 and Director Jean-Pierre Jeunet, Los Angeles Contemporary Museum of Art, CERN, Supernova Digital Animation Festival, Anima Zagreb, among others.
About Nepal International Film Festival – The eighth edition of the Nepal International Film Festival (NIFF), organized by the Nepal Film and Cultural Academy, will take place from March 20-24, 2025. The festival will showcase outstanding films from various corners of the world and will include interesting and meaningful discussions on contemporary issues with local and international filmmakers, high-level politicians, and respected personalities from society, as well as various masterclasses and workshops.
In this edition, 87 films from 40 countries have been selected from over 600 films received from 70 countries, with many of the selected films having already been screened at such prestigious festivals as Busan, Cannes, Locarno, Berlinale and others.
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