Cannes Denies 95-Minute AI Film Screened Officially, as Higgsfield Cites Paid Market Event
Updated
Updated · Futurism · May 22
Cannes Denies 95-Minute AI Film Screened Officially, as Higgsfield Cites Paid Market Event
6 articles · Updated · Futurism · May 22
Cannes said "Hell Grind" was not part of its official program, contradicting reports that the 95-minute AI-generated film debuted at the festival on Thursday.
Festival organizers said the movie was shown at a third-party industry event in Cannes, while Higgsfield later pointed to the Marché du Film—an affiliated market rather than the festival's curated lineup.
Higgsfield's founder had posted that the company "premiered at Cannes" its first feature, drawing criticism that the wording blurred the line between paying for a market screening and being selected by Cannes.
The dispute lands amid a broader Cannes fight over AI in filmmaking, with supporters such as Demi Moore and Nicolas Winding Refn clashing with opponents including Tilda Swinton and Guillermo del Toro.
WSJ said the film was made in 2 weeks for $500,000, but the screening confusion has intensified scrutiny of AI-industry marketing claims around cinema.
Can an AI ever create a film with genuine soul, or just a hollow imitation of human art?
With AI making films 90% cheaper, will human crews and actors soon become obsolete?