AI-scripted film to debut at short film festival
What's the story
The prestigious Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia is set to premiere its first-ever film scripted entirely by artificial intelligence (AI) this year. Since 1999, the festival has consistently highlighted global issues amidst ongoing conflicts and disasters. It aims to do the same this year. The 2024 edition's theme, "Illuminate your Life" strives to foster empathy, curiosity, and inspiration among viewers.
AI innovations
Festival to showcase AI-assisted films and innovative features
This year's festival will showcase a unique selection of films created with AI assistance. Among these is the Austrian experimental animated title The Artificial Conjuring Circle, marking its debut as the first fully AI-created film at the festival. Also featured is Dragon Gate, a Chinese ink-wash-style short animation incorporating AI-generated content. The renowned festival will highlight Life Log Box, an online platform for short film creators, and an interactive voting system for a promotional video contest using non-fungible tokens (NFTs).
Other entries
French production 'Palestine Islands' is a standout
Among the standout films is a French production titled Palestine Islands, which tells the story of a young Palestinian girl's mission to convince her blind grandfather that the Israeli wall separating their refugee camp from his homeland of Jaffa no longer exists. Co-director Ben Salem described it as a utopian tale, oscillating between drama and comedy.
Smartphone entries
Smartphone category features Ukrainian documentary on missile strike
In the smartphone category, a gripping five-minute Ukrainian documentary titled Siren! Air Raid Alert! Head for Cover! is crafted from survivor footage of a Russian missile strike on Kyiv in October 2022. Another notable submission is Efe, a documentary by Shiori Ito that depicts life after the Turkey-Syria earthquake in February 2023 through the eyes of a 14-year-old boy.
Screening details
Festival to screen films in Tokyo and online
The Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia, founded by Japanese actor Tetsuya Bessho, will be screened at various locations in Tokyo from June 4-17. A selection of films will also be accessible online until June 30. The festival features around 270 films chosen from nearly 5,000 entries from 114 diverse countries and regions, offering a global cinematic experience to its audience.