Curzon interim CEO Philip Knatchbull and Cannes general delegate Thierry Fremaux both addressed the growing usage of artificial intelligence in the film industry, speaking at the CinemaVision 2030 conference in Berlin on Wednesday, February 12.
Knatchbull said that AI technologies could expand the reach of international cinema beyond its local territory. “If AI can take an actor’s voice and replicate it, its exact tone an intonation, in any language in the world, then suddenly local-language production in Turkey that has a niche audience in the UK will be able to find niche audiences around the world,” said Knatchbull.
“That’s a massive opportunity for independent films to find a much wider global audience,” said Knatchbull, who said he sees “lots of advantages for independent companies and filmmakers and distributors” in AI technologies.
He added that concerns remain over the speed at which data is being consumed by AI, citing a conversation he had with the CEO of Microsoft AI. “I was told [by the CEO] that this time next year all the data in the world will have been consumed by AI, and at that point it will start to teach itself beyond human knowledge,” said Knatchbull.
“How will you apply that to the creative industries? I haven’t a clue. But it’s here, it’s real and we’ve got to get real about it. Let’s try and make it work for us.”
AI is a key topic in Berlin this week, with Hollywood AI firm Flawless partnering with XYZ Films to sell US rights on an English-language version of festival opener The Light, made using Flawless’s immersive dubbing technology.
The CinemaVision conference was a day-long event at Berlin’s Delphi Filmpalast for the film exhibition industry, funded by the Medienboard BerlinBrandenburg and German national funding.
In the closing session, Fremaux said that films made using AI could be allowed into the Cannes Competition. “Talking about films and talking about pieces of art, there is no limit, other than the meaning of the film,” said Fremaux.
Ecosystem
Knatchbull returned as Curzon CEO late last year having originally stepped down in November 2023. In Berlin, he discussed his plans for a new Curzon site in London, although did not confirm whether he was talking about the Hammersmith or Chelsea venue, both of which are imminent.
“To create an ecosystem where cinemas are really the convening place for everything else that film brand will do - that’s all my vision for the future,” said Knatchbull. “We’re looking at creating more of a content creator space during the day – a creative ‘WeWork’ [the international coworking space company] where content creators - film directors, writers, music, social media – can utilise the facilities. These will include a 300-seat cinema and smaller multimedia screens; a podcast studio; an event space; a café.
“The idea is these spaces will be more utilized for content creators to come in and maybe streaming platforms coming in and showing premieres to clients and in the screens.
“But from about four o’clock in the afternoon, the idea is it will transfer into a public venue, and where the public would come in and watch movies and go to special events, listen to Q&As. That ecosystem, if you have a brand that goes further than other cinema chains, is potentially very valuable. If this one works, we can replicate it.”
Having started in 2022, the CinemaVision conference returned for its third edition after skipping last year. Other speakers included new Berlinale director Tricia Tuttle, who said she is interested in expanding the Berlinale’s footprint outside of Berlin in Germany, having established a similar programme while deputy director then director of the BFI London Film Festival.
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