Word Artificial Intelligence Film Festival - with AI the SKY HAS NO LIMITS

The very first edition of the global festival of film and artificial intelligence, the WORLD ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE FILM FESTIVAL, connected to the WORLD ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE CANNES FESTIVAL (same organizers but different objectives, here at the WAIFF the focus is enterly on films where AI is used as a tool) took place in Nice last Friday and Saturday 11-12.04. Very well organised by producer Sarah Lelouch and David Defendi, CEO Genario, artistic director Julien Raout and festival director Jean-Édouard André (see video interview together with Marco Landi), with a big budget, an impressive red carpet, a 4 hours award ceremony at the Pathé Cinema Gare du Sud in Nice celebrating French filmmaker Claude Lelouch (Lelouch is the honorary president of the WAIFF and was awarded on this occasionn by Charles Ange Ginésy, President of the Alpes-Maritimes Department with the Department’s Medal) and the best AI film creators awarded in 4 categories and all the 15 nominated short films screened followed by an afterwards reception at the Aston Hotel on day one. An entire day two was then dedicated to networking and panel discussions with jury members like tech financier and Molotov founder Jean-David Blanc (see the interview), WAIFF jury president Thomas Bidegain (he co-wrote the script for "Emilia Perez" with director Jacques Audiard and was nominated for an Oscar in the category Best Screenplay), Alexia Laroche-Joubert CEO Banijay France, French actress and producer Julie Gayet or Marianne Carpentier, Director Technologies &Innovation in charge of the digital transformation at the TF 1 Group. 

WAIFF and EuropAI visionary president Marco Landi (not only is he the former president of Apple at large, he is the one who succeeded to bring back Steve Jobs into the company) suggested on day two in his introduction speech inaugurating the congress which took place at the beautiful Baroque Revival Palace of the Sardinian Kings that having a Chinese, a Japanese and an Italian delegation, the conference should consider to open up for an English speaking audience with the next edition. "Big tech is taking on everything, the main question is how can we protect and renumerate the artists, the creators. In France with the CNC we have our creators protected, and with the MIA and the new launch of the Genario we reinforce our goals to promote AI in our region."

Claude Lelouch added: "Imagination has no limits and all the invensions were fascinating me. To film the spontaneous, to discover the invisible with my camera. Today this camera became the AI. With the arrival of the AI I can assist at a revolutionary times, I must go back to school and learn how to make use of this new tools. The AI is reaching us at the right moment with all these streeming platformes surrounding us this is a chance for the cinema to reinventing itself. Our imagination can't be replaced, the AI is no menace, it is a great tool. It is like a Ferrari, but you must learn how to make use of it. Time became essentiel for me, and I will use the AI for my 52 film. We need innovation, discover new universes and I want to be part of this revolution, says Claude Lelouch.

Alexia Laroche, CEO Banijay the AI can be also amusing, you should try to explore itvthus way. 

Marianne Carpentier TF1 approaches the technology in a very pragmatical way. She works together with the soap operas producers and here you need the AI for this kind of mass industry because they are always short of time. She is sharing details about this collaborative tool, AI is not lonely process. I'm scheptical about working isolated, creation is a team work said Marianne. Alexia told the participants that they had a series for Netflix, they asked them to reduce from 8 to 6 episodes and this job not simply at all was done by AI, a big relief.

Ludovic Place, director ESIS says that they are teaching students how to use the AI as a tool. We gave them the choice to work with or without and they realised that the AI is helping them to make films saving time and money. It is pushing the limits!

Dubbing companies will be impacted, animators the same says Alexia. We invest 5 millions per year, we could then save money and jn est in creativuty.

Ludovic Place says that students are inquiring their professors if with the AI it still makes sense to study. This seemd to be a real concern.

Marianne adressed a concern saying that you can easily realise when a film is made by AI, something looks strange in the developing of the story telling. Alexia responded that maybe right now but this going to be overcomed in the future, it's going to work out well.

Blanc said on the panel in the panel about AI and the financing of cinema that he never financed a film or a series, but for sure the AI is reinventing the film financing.

Pauline Augrain, Director Digital CNC, added that risks mus be first identified in order to avoid them. "We have indentify important elements to take into account like social impact and the transperancy of AI" she said. 

An other panel was exploring the author's rights how to protect them. "Screenwriter's rights must be protected and they must be remunerated, besides this in accordance with the EU regulation the AI creators must present the material they have used for their creation." said professor Akexandra Bensamoun, spécialist in intellectual property and digital law.

Actor Patrick Kuban from the United Vouce Artists said that stealing voices and images are a big risk.Techniciens, sound masters are professions menaced by AI and the dubbing industry too.

On the last panel filmmakers had the opportunity to interexchange their views on AI. Sceiptwriter and director Axelle Ropert, while she wants women to get more implicated in exploring new technologies, she does not want the AI to make her films. When it's coming to scriptwriting she experienced that ChatGPT can adopt even a feminist view, very disturbing, like beeing a good friend of hers. 

Bertrand Bonello from the French Filmmakers Association SRF sees no interesting in an reproductive AI but in a creative AI that offers something beyond.

Axelle Ropert added that images created by AI don't create emotions, she personally doesn't feel touched. Why? Because only real actors can bring their experiences with them, and therefore only actors can create emotions.

Sarah Lelouch (watch video interview) said that at the WAIFF, which is exploring the link between new technologies and filmmaking an impressive number of 1500 film entries from sixty countries reached them, and several films from Iran!" AI is on the march and we have to find a way to adapt. "Many professionals are still afraid of this technology because they fear losing with the AI, such as writers, voice actors, and actors". 

In his closing speech festival president Marco Landi said: "We see the importance of AI, we invite the AI to the cinema. But the AI is too masculine. I created in Marokko the AfricAI in order to motivate especially girls. We need an AI where the women are included." And right he is!

I learned a lot in these 2 days, fully packed but according to Sarah Lelouch the next edition miggt be extended to three days and the venue might be either in Nice or Cannes. And the goals are beyond a film festiva: to establish a platform, not only to question but also to motivate to explore the possibilities of AI.

And while I had my doubts and a rather negative view on AI since META entered this week (uninvited!) my WhatsApp and I am now apparently helping to train their AI, my view on AI has changed. Reproductive AI or creative AI, fact is we are and will be even more surrounded by AI in the future and the most important lection I learned at this congress is to better be prepared and...

EXPLORE THE AI, THE SKY HAS NO LIMITS!  The WAIFF organizers are planing also a collaboration with Canneseries taking place 24-29.04!