AI filmmakers gathered at the NFC Lisbon this week for the AI Film Academy's inaugural AIFA Awards, recognizing the “extraordinary diversity of stories and the radically new visual language of AI.”
The AImagine Award for Best Film went to “Denny the Shark,” created by collaborative duo Ethereal Moon, consisting of Melody Bossan (aka LeMoon) and Dina Lockamy (aka Ethereal Gwirl).
Bosson said the use of AI has brought to life her “fuzzy dream of being a filmmaker,” adding that she and Lacami “were both stay-at-home moms when we discovered AI Art.” “
Leo Crane, co-founder of the AI Film Academy, said Busan and Lokami are “excellent examples of a large sector of the world outside of this fast-paced, cut-throat industry.” Decrypt. “We are trying to prove the idea that emerging technology opens up the world,” he added.
The event also saw the launch of the AI Film Academy, an organization that aims to “democratize the film industry” through AI and blockchain technologies.
“This is a global institution for the future of film,” said Claire Maguire, co-founder of the AI Film Academy. “We mainly wanted to send a message to show how much potential this new technology has, so that we can help prevent fear, and support and encourage positive adoption.”
AIFA Awards hosted by Clare Maguire and Leo Crane with Dyland Balquiee from Muse Frames. Photo: AI Film Academy/Paige Powell
AI and the film industry
AI has proven to be a divisive topic in the film industry, drawing battle lines between those who embrace the technology and those who believe it threatens artists' livelihoods and rely on piracy.
Negotiations to resolve last year's actors' and writers' strikes hinge on provisions regulating the use of AI in the film industry, after actors have reported losing their jobs to AI-generated performances. There's also pushback from audiences, with the directors of horror film “Late Night with the Devil” forced to defend their use of AI-generated art after the film's page on review site Letterboxd was flooded with negative comments. .
Earlier this month, actor Scarlett Johansson sued, accusing AI firm OpenAI of using a voice-over for its GPT-4o model after it rejected requests to use her voice. was given
Johansson claimed to be “shocked, angry and in disbelief” that the firm used a voice “very similar to mine”. The firm retracted the offensive soundbite, denying that any similarity was intentional.
Others have argued that the fear of artists prevails. In a recent interview, Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos argued that AI is just another “tool,” likening it to technological advances such as CG animation or home video.
“AI is not going to take your job,” Sarandos said. “The person who uses AI well can take your job.”
Crane acknowledged concerns about AI “taking jobs” and “exploiting people,” but argued that the technology empowers creators outside of traditional systems.
“It's the studios, the big power structures that are controlling the AI and exploiting the little person,” Crane said. “But when you look at the finalists, and you look at the filmmakers that were represented here, these are the so-called smaller people, these are the people who are working outside the system.”
He said AI technology is giving them the opportunity to “really compete with million-dollar movies in a way that wasn't possible before.”
Edited by Andrew Hayward