The first AI film festival in the country began Wednesday in Glendale.
The inaugural three-day event from Oct. 31 to Nov. 2 is called AI Film3 and Art Festival Arizona. It’s showing 150 films from all over the world, even some award-winning, at AMC Westgate. It showcases what is possible in film using artificial intelligence, plus panel discussions, at the nearby Renaissance hotel, on how different AI tools were used.
PJ Way is the festival's founder and says AI was used to generate at least a part of each film whether it be the soundtrack or the script itself. And no tool was off the table for the creatives.
“Because their style may be dependent upon the type of tool. While they all do similar things, they don’t do it the same. And they actually do give different results," Way said.
Way says the use of AI tools can be polarizing, but the point of this festival is to show audiences how AI can break communication barriers in all industries and not just film.
Way says the point is to demystify AI tools for any use, and demonstrate their potential to empower people, especially those with disabilities.
“My daughter by example is nonverbal and so she has a physical limitation and she’s nonverbal yet she’s still able to create things in a way that expresses ideas and expresses her own thoughts on things that would otherwise be very limited. It’s not somebody interpreting for her; she's able to do it," Way said.
The films are categorized into themes such as horror — in honor of Halloween and there are also interactive art installations as a part of the festival.
