Tribeca and OpenAI Premiere AI-Generated Sora Shorts
In a groundbreaking collaboration, Tribeca and OpenAI have commissioned five filmmakers to create original short films using OpenAI’s cutting-edge video generation model, Sora. This unique program, aptly named "SORA Shorts," will debut at the Tribeca Festival, featuring the works of Bonnie Discepolo, Ellie Foumbi, Nikyatu Jusu, Reza Sixo Safai, and Michaela Ternasky-Holland.
The filmmakers were granted early access to Sora, allowing them to explore the creative potentials of AI in film. The debut screening will be accompanied by a conversation with the filmmakers and Brad Lightcap, COO of OpenAI, providing insights into the integration of AI technology in the filmmaking process.
About the Filmmakers:
Bonnie Discepolo: An actor and filmmaker known for genre films centered on women’s bodily autonomy, Discepolo's works have been featured at Tribeca, SXSW, and Fantastic Fest. Her unique style blends grounded characters with magical realism, and she is currently interested in themes of time travel, metaphysics, and climate change.
Ellie Foumbi: An award-winning Cameroonian American filmmaker, Foumbi’s debut film "Our Father, the Devil" premiered at the Venice Film Festival and garnered critical acclaim and numerous awards. She is recognized as a BAFTA Breakthrough USA Fellow and one of the 25 New Faces of Independent Film by Filmmaker Magazine.
Nikyatu Jusu: A tenured professor at George Mason University, Jusu's work includes the Sundance-winning short film "Suicide By Sunlight" and her debut feature "Nanny," which also won the Sundance Grand Jury Prize. Her films often explore themes of horror and the supernatural.
Reza Sixo Safai: An Iranian-American filmmaker known for blending Eastern and Western narratives, Safai gained recognition with films like "Circumstance" and "A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night." His innovative approach extends to AI, contributing to the first AI feature-length film.
Michaela Ternasky-Holland: A Peabody-nominated and Emmy award-winning director, Ternasky-Holland specializes in immersive and interactive technology for socially impactful stories. Her works have been featured at top festivals and institutions, including Tribeca, and have received widespread media attention.