Venice Film Festival to premiere AI-made documentary

The Venice Film Festival has programmed a documentary made entirely with artificial intelligence, as its artistic director said the technology could help filmmakers do things that were not previously possible.

Alberto Barbera said in an AFP interview ahead of the festival that AI brings “both danger and advantage”. He said debate has often been driven by fear over possible effects on humanity, jobs, copyright and artists' images, but that people also need to consider how to use the technology's potential.

The documentary, “Be Brave” by Italian director Francesco Carrozzini, centres on Renzo Rosso, the founder of the jeans brand Diesel. Barbera called the film “a very interesting experience”.

In the film's notes, Carrozzini said using AI for a documentary about Rosso made sense because it created “an experimental and provocative encounter” with artificial intelligence.

The festival, which begins on Wednesday, will also hold an international symposium on what AI means for the movie industry. George Clooney is listed on the panel.

Many movie industry workers remain opposed to AI because of fears it could threaten jobs for animators, scriptwriters and eventually actors.