French film powerhouse mk2 is teaming up with leading data and AI firm Artefact for the second annual Artefact AI Film Festival designed to bridge innovations in artificial intelligence with the creative filmmaking process.
Director Cedric Klapisch has been named jury president for the event that spotlights an international competition for short films made with AI.
“For AI to become a new creative tool, it is absolutely essential to ensure this artificial intelligence is not guided by the natural stupidity of certain human beings,” Klapisch said of his participation.
The competition is open to both experienced and first-time filmmakers who are tasked with making a short film of no more than 314 seconds using at least one generative AI tool at each production phase: pre-production, production and post-production.
There are four prizes on offer: the Grand Prix worth €10,000 for best film, a €1,000 Jury Prize and a €1,000 audience award for the film that receives the most online votes, plus an Artefact “Best Use of AI” prize that gives support in the form of an incubator for the production of a future film.
The theme of the festival’s second edition of the AI Film Festival is “(Dis)play” that pays homage to the world of gaming from children’s pastimes to role-playing and word games.
The festival was launched based on widespread industry concern about respect for copyright and the need for ethical use of AI. Each participant must provide a production log detailing his or her use of generative AI tools to guarantee transparency and respect for intellectual property.
The event may come as a surprise since mk2 is known for being a hub for the production, distribution and international sales of auteur-driven cinema, but Elisha Karmitz, mk2’s co-CEO explained: “We’re reaffirming our vision. AI becomes a relevant tool when it’s placed at the service of storytelling. At mk2, we support innovations that open up new fields of expression for auteurs.”
mk2 is producing the feature film from Raphael Frydman whose short “La vie quand t’ai mort” won last year’s inaugural AI Film Festival event’s top prize.
Karmitz called the upcoming project “an extension of the festival’s vocation: to reveal new talent, push back the boundaries of creation, and maintain high standards for the quality of storytelling.”
Artefact co-founder and CEO Vincent Luciani added: “In a world where AI is sometimes perceived with trepidation, we wanted to open up another space: a place for reflection, imagination and celebration of the augmented act of creativity.”
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