AI and the Filmmaker

Earlier this week, I promised to share the film that stayed with me after the AI Film Awards.

It was Portrait No. 72, directed by Darryll Rapacon and Rodson Suarez.

Not because it made the boldest use of AI. Quite the opposite. It was the only film that made me forget about the technology. I simply became absorbed in the story. The AI disappeared. What remained was emotion, atmosphere and human connection.

That is where the real opportunity lies.

AI should never be the story. Like cinematography, editing or music, its greatest strength is in serving the story, not competing with it.

The standard across the programme was exceptional, showcasing the imagination and ambition of filmmakers from India and across the South Asian diaspora.

If this year’s films proved anything, it is this: the future of filmmaking will not be defined by artificial intelligence. It will be defined by the people who use it as a tool to tell unforgettable stories.