- Storm Helene kills 44, threatens more 'catastrophic' flooding
- Boeing strike grinds on as latest talks fail to reach agreement
- Iran 'news' sites, hackers target Trump ahead of US election
- US ports brace for potential dockworkers strike
- Japan's speedy, spotless Shinkansen bullet trains turn 60
- US hurricane deaths rise to 44, fears of more 'catastrophic' flooding
- Global stocks mostly rise, cheering Beijing stimulus
- Europe en route for Moon with new simulator, says astronaut Pesquet
- Fireworks forecast if comet survives risky Sun flypast
- Argentina judge orders dictionary to delete pejorative definition of 'Jewish'
- Global stocks rise on rate hopes, Beijing stimulus
- S.African woman turns 118, among the oldest in the world
- UK clears $4 bn AI partnership between Amazon, Anthropic
- Barca fans barred from Champions League away game over racist banner
- Chinese stocks extend surge, Europe higher on Beijing stimulus
- Pope says Church must 'seek forgiveness' for child sexual abuse
- China caps week of 'bazooka' stimulus for ailing economy with rate cut
- Cuts, cash, credit: China bids to jumpstart flagging economy
- France's debt weighs heavier ahead of budget debate
- Iran treads carefully, backing Hezbollah while avoiding war
- Return to sender: waste stranded at sea stirs toxic dispute
- 'Broken' news industry faces uncertain future
- On remote Greek island, migratory birds offer climate clues
- Taken from mother by nuns, victim seeks answers as pope visits Belgium
- China cuts amount banks hold in reserve to boost lending
- Hong Kong, Shanghai extend surge as China optimism boosts markets
- Vietnam president reiterates support for Cuba during official visit
- Drought reduces Amazon River in Colombia by as much as 90%: report
- Stay or go? Pacific Islanders face climate's grim choice
- Florida bracing for 'unsurvivable' Hurricane Helene
- Poverty rises to over 52 percent in Milei's Argentina
- Chloe's see-through look may not be for Kamala Harris
- Champagne houses abuzz over English sparkling wine
- Macron, Trudeau pledge to work for 'decarbonized' economies
- Hurricanes, storms, typhoons... Is September wetter than usual?
- China stimulus, tech optimism boost stock markets
- 'Unsurvivable' Hurricane Helene races towards Florida
- Macron meets Trudeau in Canada as both face political setbacks
- South Korea surges in UN innovation index
- Chloe's see-through look may not be for Kamala
- Floods threaten Niger's historic 'gateway to the desert'
- China economy hopes boost global equities
- Ubisoft shares sink after 'Assassin's Creed' delay
- German economy to shrink again in 2024: think tanks
- Hong Kong's New World Development replaces CEO Adrian Cheng
- Swiss central bank cuts rate again amid strong franc worries
- Germany's BASF to focus on 'core units' in major overhaul
- China admits economy facing new 'problems', vows to fix property sector
- Stock markets boosted by China hopes, tech rally
- Bangladesh revolution sparks new hopes among Rohingya
'Amelie' director to judge first AI film festival
The director of French classic "Amelie" said he was fascinated but occasionally scared by artificial intelligence as he launched a first-ever festival for AI-generated movies on Wednesday.
Jean-Pierre Jeunet will serve as head of the jury for the Artefact AI Film Festival, whose awards ceremony will take place in November.
Anyone can enter a short film -- up to five minutes in length -- as long as it uses AI tools in some part of its production, from script writing and storyboarding to image generation, editing, music or other aspects.
"Everything that's happening at the moment -- whether it's deepfakes, voice dubbing -- it fascinates me," said Jeunet, who was Oscar-nominated for "Amelie" in 2002.
He told reporters he had asked ChatGPT to come up with ideas for a sequel to his hit film, "but I had to stop because it scared me".
But Jeunet, who also made the gory sci-fi "Delicatessen" (1991), said he was not worried about AI-generated movies replacing traditional films.
"There will always be films made by hand," he said, before taking a light-hearted swipe at Hollywood blockbusters.
"Maybe not the Marvel films, since the scripts written by AI could not be any more stupid than the ones they have done up to now," he said.
The festival is being overseen by Artefact, an AI consultancy firm, whose experts will be tasked with ensuring there is no breach of copyright or other ethical norms in the way AI is used in the short films.
"We are in a moment of audiovisual revolution -- it's important that we address it," said Elisha Karmitz of the production company and cinema chain MK2, which is a partner of the festival.
"The goal of the festival is to promote creativity via the use of AI, and make it more accessible," he said.
Budding filmmakers will have until October 1 to submit their entries. As well as several prizes, the best will also be shown ahead in MK2 cinemas.
P.Kolisnyk--CPN