Talents Sarajevo 2024

ART/FICIAL

ART/FICIAL aims to challenge the apocalyptic narrative surrounding the relationship between AI and cinema. We contend that AI, far from being an artistic nemesis, represents a technological milestone contributing to the redefinition and transformation of cinema, rather than its demise. Similar to past technological advancements, AI will bring about both positive and negative consequences. The crucial first step in addressing these implications is to demystify AI as a tool, emphasizing that its impact depends on the individuals employing it.

In just a few years, the term "artificial intelligence" has evolved from a sci-fi concept into an omnipresent element in our daily lives. While it's clear that AI is a far cry from the ominous "humans against machines" scenarios (from HAL 9000 to those pesky Terminators), the catastrophic rhetoric surrounding AI still persists. According to one view, AI is nothing less than the harbinger of the end of creativity as an essential human trait. Consequently, anything produced by AI is deemed a mere parody of true art, inevitably leading towards the destruction of culture and humanity.

While most information about the impact of AI on the film industry comes from Hollywood, ART/FICIAL aims to specifically address the local/regional experience in that regard. To what extent and in what ways is AI present in the film region covered by the Sarajevo Film Festival? ART/FICIAL extends an invitation to emerging film creatives from the region to join Talents Sarajevo in exploring the intersection of AI and cinema, considering their own experiences of working with AI or their decision to abstain from doing so.