Synthetic Sincerity: New AI Documentary Blurs Lines Between Human and Machine at IDFA

A new documentary feature is exploring the future of artificial intelligence in filmmaking. “Synthetic Sincerity” world premieres at the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam. The film investigates whether AI can be taught authenticity.

Director Marc Isaacs strikes a fictional deal with an AI research lab. He allows them to study characters from his past documentaries. In return, he films their process of creating synthetic beings.

Hybrid Film Mixes Fact and Fiction to Question Reality

The film blends documentary with fictional scenes and absurd humor. An AI character, created with actress Illinca Manolache, guides Isaacs. This character sternly instructs him on how to behave in this new synthetic world.

According to the director, the laboratory depicted is a complete fiction. The “University of Southern England” does not exist. However, the themes it explores are very real and pressing for the film industry.

AI’s Impact on Cinema Presents Both Promise and Peril

Isaacs describes AI’s potential impact as both terrifying and interesting. Like any new tool, it will take filmmaking in different directions. The political question of how we receive these synthetic images remains crucial.

The film questions what happens when we look into the eyes of people who don’t exist. It forces viewers to reflect on representation in the digital age. This reflection becomes increasingly important as AI technology advances rapidly.

The exploration of synthetic characters in “Synthetic Sincerity” challenges fundamental assumptions about documentary truth. This AI documentary arrives at a critical moment for visual media and authenticity.

Thought you’d like to know

What is “Synthetic Sincerity” about?

The film follows director Marc Isaacs as he collaborates with a fictional AI lab. Researchers attempt to teach authenticity to synthetic characters using his documentary subjects. It explores the relationship between humans and machines through this unique premise.

Is the Synthetic Sincerity Lab real?

No, the laboratory and its affiliated university are fictional creations. The filmmakers invented the “University of Southern England” for narrative purposes. However, the AI research concepts explored reflect real technological developments.

How was the AI character created?

Romanian actress Illinca Manolache performed the role with her hair tied back. Her performance was then processed through AI systems to create the final character. The voice uses a Dutch-accented English setting to create an unplaceable accent.

What does this mean for documentary filmmaking?

The film questions the very nature of documentary truth in the AI age. It suggests that all documentary involves construction and selection of reality. AI technology pushes these questions into entirely new territory for filmmakers.

Why explore AI in this way?

Isaacs wanted to examine what happens when we engage with synthetic beings. The project continues his exploration of boundaries between reality and performance. It represents the third film in an unofficial trilogy about truth in cinema.