The 2023 Atlanta Sci-fi Film Festival has announced its first International 48-Hour Sci-Tech Film Challenge, sponsored by OVHcloud. This year’s challenge, which takes place August 25th - 27th, is one of the most unique film competitions in the world. 

Should A.I. Forever Change Movies: The Atlanta Sci-Fi Film Festival Illustrates the Power of Human-Made Art 

Star Trek gave us the flip phone and 2001: A Space Odyssey likely inspired inventions such as Alexa and Siri. Sci-fi films have introduced us to new technologies for decades. Now, artificial intelligence (A.I.) is the latest technology taking the film industry by storm, but it’s not just being featured on the big screen — it’s behind the camera! This is nothing new for the Atlanta Sci-fi Film Festival. As festival director Amanda Ray explained, “We screened the first film ever written by an artificial intelligence that named himself Benjamin, called SUNSPRING back in 2016!”

Whether or not A.I. is here to stay, it has sparked interesting discussions about the intersection between technology and art. The Atlanta Sci-Fi Film Festival encourages these conversations in its 48-Hour Sci-Tech Film Challenge, where registered filmmakers have 48 hours to write, shoot, and edit a short film, and must incorporate a specific element of technology provided by the festival’s tech company partners. But there is one caveat: Competition participants cannot use A.I., Amanda Ray stated, “The legalities and ethics surrounding the use of A.I. generated images, music, and voices need to be regulated first.”

The competition is open for registration on FilmFreeway until August 11th. It officially begins on Friday, August 25 at 7:00 PM EDT. At the open, registered filmmakers will receive the title of the film they must make, as well as the required element of technology. Teams have the choice to shoot the film on a smartphone or camera, and it can be animated or live-action. They have until 7:00 pm EST Sunday, August 27^th to write, shoot, edit, and upload the completed film, all within a weekend.

Industry professionals will judge submissions using such metrics as adherence and best use of required elements, artistic merit (i.e., creativity, succinct narrative), and technical achievement (i.e., editing, sound design). They will divide $5,000 in cash between the three winning teams.

To further support evolving technologies, the festival will partner with diverse technology companies around the country. Filmmakers must creatively and respectfully integrate these companies’ products and/or services into their films. This year’s first challenge is sponsored by OVHcloud, a global cloud infrastructure provider.

Like the introduction of technologies in Star Trek, the 48-hour challenge enables the festival’s partners to see how their products or services can be integrated into a narrative. This collaboration gives filmmakers experience working with brands in a legal, responsible, and respectful manner, while still being creative.

To further promote the importance of human-made art, the festival created Filmmakers Glue, a Discord room that features production job postings and casting calls and fosters burgeoning filmmakers through regular networking events.

There will be a live screening of the finalists’ films during the festival being held in the City of Peachtree Corners from Oct 6th to Oct 8^th and the winners will be announced at the awards ceremony. This year’s festival is FREE with Registration.

More information about the festival and 48-Hour Sci-Tech Challenge rules and registration can be found on the festival’s official website at http://www.atlantascififilmfestival.com.