The “AI in Cinema” workshop, featuring South Korean broadcasting specialist Luu Kenweon and moderated by Iranian host and media expert Hossein Yazdanshenas, was held on Sunday, 30 November at Honar Shahr Aftab Cineplex in Shiraz.
Opening the session, Yazdanshenas noted: “Artificial intelligence is becoming increasingly significant in cinema – from pre-production to post-production and marketing. The Cinema Organization of Iran and the Fajr International Film Festival emphasize the need to examine AI’s achievements. That is why we are hosting one of South Korea’s AI specialists today. Luu Kenweon has 23 years of experience in broadcasting, specializes in data mining, and has participated as an AI expert in global conferences.”
Kenweon went on to explain that high-quality films can now be produced with minimal budgets using AI. He referred to his own recently completed documentary project, which blends narrative, music, tradition, and innovation. “As the executive producer, I designed the project’s entire production pipeline using AI. I learned that even with a small budget, an international result is possible. This project proved to me that a small start can lead to something big – with the help of AI.”
He added: “In our latest projects, we used AI in nearly every stage – from script analysis during pre-production to quality control during shooting, as well as subtitling and editing. The outcome was remarkable: a 90% reduction in production costs and a significantly shorter editing process. In our most recent project, 70% of the subtitles were generated using AI, but we never sacrificed quality for speed. This experience convinced us that even small teams can achieve creative results.”
Reflecting on filmmaking in Iran and the Middle East, Kenweon said: “I know that filmmakers in Iran and the region create outstanding works despite limited resources. I faced financial limitations myself, so I deeply understand the challenges. With case studies, useful tools, and pilot collaborations, we can build a bridge between our team and Iranian filmmakers. I am especially eager to learn how Arabic and Persian subtitles can be embedded effectively. I believe innovation is possible everywhere.”
According to Kenweon, “Today, 86% of film and media producers use AI. This isn’t a temporary trend – it is a reality in filmmaking. From pre-production to post-production, AI has become widespread.”
He continued: “In 2022, the media and entertainment AI market was valued at 15 billion dollars, and the figure is expected to grow. AI contributes in every phase of production: summarizing and analyzing scripts, assisting with storyboards in pre-production, adjusting camera settings during filming, and helping with rough cuts and noise reduction in post-production. Even under severe limitations, we can still advance our stories.”
Addressing misconceptions, he said: “AI is powerful, but treating it as a fully independent creator is a mistake. In 2023, a publication asked AI to draft a story based on the ‘Star Wars’ narrative. The output was full of errors. Readers were disappointed, and editors had to issue an apology. The problem was that they treated AI like a journalist and skipped the essential human editorial step. AI should be seen as a first draft – final decisions must always be made by humans.”
He also highlighted the role of AI in journalism: “News agencies have agreed that using AI for news production must remain limited. AI cannot replace reporters or photojournalists. Fake news is unacceptable, and transparency is essential.”
The 43rd Fajr International Film Festival continues through 3 December.
