Cannes: Artificial intelligence has emerged as one of the most controversial subjects at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, where filmmakers, actors and producers are debating whether the fast growing technology will strengthen cinema or slowly replace the human creativity at its heart.
The discussion around AI has become impossible to avoid at the world famous festival. Technology companies, film studios and independent creators are all exploring how artificial intelligence can be used in filmmaking, from editing and sound production to visual effects and digital performances.
What once seemed like a distant technological experiment is now becoming part of everyday film production. Several AI related projects and demonstrations at Cannes have drawn major attention, with many industry leaders acknowledging that artificial intelligence is already changing the way films are made.
One of the most talked about productions at the festival is filmmaker Steven Soderbergh’s documentary “John Lennon: The Last Interview.” The film uses Meta’s AI technology to create visuals connected to an interview given by John Lennon and Yoko Ono on the day Lennon was killed in 1980. While some viewers praised the creative use of technology, others questioned whether AI should play such a strong role in emotional and historical storytelling.
The debate has become even more noticeable because Cannes itself partnered with Meta this year, highlighting the growing relationship between the entertainment and technology industries. AI companies have filled exhibition spaces across the festival market, promoting tools designed to reduce production costs and simplify complex filmmaking tasks.
Supporters of artificial intelligence argue that cinema has always evolved through technological innovation. Actress Demi Moore said the industry should learn how to work responsibly with AI instead of completely rejecting it. Director Peter Jackson compared artificial intelligence to earlier advances such as digital editing and computer generated imagery, which were once also viewed with suspicion before becoming standard filmmaking tools.
Many producers attending Cannes believe AI could especially benefit independent filmmakers by making expensive visual effects and post production work more affordable. Streaming companies are also investing heavily in AI powered dubbing and translation systems that can quickly adapt films for global audiences.
However, many filmmakers and actors at Cannes remain deeply concerned about the risks involved.
Director James Gray warned that no machine can replace human emotion, personal experience or artistic instinct. He argued that cinema is built on deeply human storytelling that cannot simply be reproduced by software. Actor and writer Seth Rogen also criticised the increasing use of AI in writing and production, saying too much dependence on machines could damage originality and creativity in the film industry.
The growing use of AI has also raised fears about job security and artistic ownership. Actors and creative workers worry about digital replicas, synthetic voices and AI generated performances being used without proper consent or fair payment.
These concerns have already pushed Hollywood organisations into action. SAG AFTRA continues negotiations aimed at protecting actors from misuse of their digital likeness. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has also updated Oscar eligibility rules to ensure that films using AI still involve meaningful human creative work.
Despite the excitement surrounding AI, Cannes organisers appear cautious about allowing fully AI generated films to compete for the festival’s highest honours. Many industry figures believe that while technology can assist filmmaking, cinema must continue to protect human imagination and emotional storytelling.
The discussions taking place at Cannes this year show that artificial intelligence is no longer a future possibility for the entertainment industry. It is already becoming a powerful force shaping how films are written, produced and experienced around the world.
As filmmakers continue debating the opportunities and dangers of AI, the global cinema industry now faces a major question about how to balance technological progress with the human creativity that has always defined the art of filmmaking.