IMAX Plans AI Film Festival at 10 US Theaters Amid Backlash

IMAX has announced it will host a special edition of Runway's AI Film Festival from August 17 to 20, 2025, showcasing ten AI-generated films at ten theaters nationwide, including major cities like New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. The festival, celebrating filmmakers using emerging AI tools, attracted over 6,000 submissions and features selections curated by a jury including directors Gaspar Noé and Harmony Korine. IMAX positions the event as a pioneering step into a new creative era where storytelling and technology converge, offering a premium viewing experience for AI-generated shorts. However, the announcement has sparked intense backlash from filmmakers, critics, and movie fans who view AI filmmaking as a threat to artistic integrity and the livelihoods of human artists, with many expressing feelings of betrayal and concern over AI's encroachment on creative professions. The controversy highlights broader tensions within the film industry about balancing technological innovation with traditional artistic values, recalling previous disputes such as the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike over AI protections. Despite criticism, IMAX is advancing the festival as a milestone for AI films, emphasizing the quality and variety of the works, and making the finalist films available online after theatrical screenings.