#IFFIWood, 22 November 2025

The In Conversation session - 'An Eurasian Festival Frontier: Do We Need to Redefine Cinema in the World of AI?' at the 56th International Film Festival of India brought together two of the world’s most respected festival personalities: Tricia Tuttle, Festival Director of the Berlin International Film Festival, and Shekhar Kapur, Festival Director of IFFI. Even though the session was moderated by Kapur, the exchange unfolded like a dynamic two-way conversation, exploring the evolving intersection of AI, creativity, and the future of film festivals.

The session began on a warm, personal note as Shekhar Kapur congratulated the festival for dispensing with plastic bottles, while Tricia Tuttle recalled a moment from 1998 when, as a young film school graduate, she attended Shekhar Kapur’s masterclass on his film Elizabeth. “It feels full circle,” she said, setting a tone that blended past experiences with the unfolding future of cinema.

Throughout the session, Shekhar Kapur repeatedly stressed that no matter what technology arrives, whether digital tools or AI, cinema survives because human imagination survives. He emphasized that it is the creator who ultimately directs any new tool, reminding the audience that no innovation can outgrow the creativity of the people who use it.

Tricia Tuttle reflected on earlier anxieties around technological shifts, recalling how the advent of digital filmmaking once sparked fears that cinema would disappear. “But what endures is the idea, the craftsmanship, the humanity,” she said. Shekhar Kapur added that no matter how advanced AI becomes, it cannot understand the delicate emotional micro-variations a great actor brings to a frame, especially the subtle changes in the eyes. “AI doesn’t understand pupils,” he noted, adding that the emotional spark is what truly binds an audience to a story.

Shekhar Kapur also shared a teaser of his AI-created series, War Lord, speaking with the enthusiasm of someone exploring new creative tools. Even while embracing these possibilities, he grounded the conversation in his belief that technology does not redefine the storyteller; rather, the storyteller reshapes technology.

In a moment that delighted the audience, Kapur recounted a humorous anecdote about his cook using ChatGPT to write a script for Mr India 2. “He came to me with so much enthusiasm, ”Shekhar Kapur recalled. “I genuinely didn’t know what to appreciate first, the meal he had cooked or the script he had written.” The light-hearted story highlighted how accessible creative tools have become and how technology can empower imagination in unexpected places.

Both speakers discussed how cinema remains a collective social experience despite rapid technological change. Shekhar Kapur described cinema-going as a social experience that cannot be replaced by AI tools or home-viewing habits, noting, “Even with home delivery, people still go to restaurants.” Tricia Tuttle emphasized the importance of preserving spaces where independent and adventurous films can be experienced, a responsibility that film festivals must continue to uphold.

The discussion also touched on concerns about shrinking crew sizes and the future of film-set labour. Tricia Tuttle highlighted the value of simply being on a film set, sharing that her son once expressed a desire to work as part of the crew, not to direct or write, but to understand and experience the filmmaking world up close. Shekhar Kapur added that he fears losing the ability to say “action” and “cut,” noting that the human relationships built on a set cannot be recreated by any AI tool.

During the audience interaction, questions around plagiarism, ethics, and the artistic legitimacy of AI brought forth one of Shekhar Kapur’s strongest statements: “AI is not magic. It’s not chaos. It’s change. But real storytelling is unpredictable. AI cannot predict the future; it can only imitate the past.” He added that plagiarism, with or without AI, comes from creative laziness, and that emotional storytelling will always reveal the human behind the work.

The session concluded with both speakers agreeing that cinema will continue to evolve, but its essence — human imagination, emotional truth, and the power of stories that will endure beyond every technological shift. The event wrapped up with a felicitation by Additional Secretary, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Shri Prabhat.

About IFFI

Born in 1952, the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) stands tall as South Asia’s oldest and largest celebration of cinema. Jointly hosted by the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC), Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India and the Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG), State Government of Goa, the festival has grown into a global cinematic powerhouse—where restored classics meet bold experiments, and legendary maestros share space with fearless first-timers. What makes IFFI truly sparkle is its electric mix—international competitions, cultural showcases, masterclasses, tributes, and the high-energy WAVES Film Bazaar, where ideas, deals and collaborations take flight. Staged against Goa’s stunning coastal backdrop from November 20–28, the 56th edition promises a dazzling spectrum of languages, genres, innovations, and voices—an immersive celebration of India’s creative brilliance on the world stage.

For more information, click on:

IFFI Website: https://www.iffigoa.org/

PIB’s IFFI Microsite: https://www.pib.gov.in/iffi/56new/

PIB IFFIWood Broadcast Channel:  https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaEiBaML2AU6gnzWOm3F

X Handles: @IFFIGoa, @PIB_India, @PIB_Panaji

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PIB IFFI CAST AND CREW | Ritu Shukla/Sayyid Rabeehashmi/ Nikhitha A S/Darshana Rane | IFFI 56 - 035