AI in filmmaking: Call for policy, skills development

Stakeholders at a roundtable in Dhaka have called for policies, research and skills development to help Bangladesh’s film industry adapt to the growing use of artificial intelligence (AI).

They said AI could reduce production costs, create new opportunities for creativity and help promote Bangladesh’s culture globally, while also raising concerns over intellectual property, ethics, identity and employment.

The remarks came at a roundtable titled “AI and Film: Preparedness and Prospects of Bangladesh’s Film Industry” at the Bangladesh Computer Council in Agargaon on Saturday.

Brain Lab and Dhaka DocLab jointly organised the event, moderated by Dhaka DocLab Director and filmmaker Tareq Ahmed. Filmmakers, producers, writers, teachers, journalists, technologists and students took part.

Luva Nahid Chowdhury, trustee of Dhaka DocLab and director general of Bengal Foundation, said AI was making filmmaking easier and creating opportunities for new skills.

She stressed the need for a clear policy framework to protect the interests and intellectual property of filmmakers, actors, crew members and others involved in the industry.

Hasib Hasan Chowdhury, founder of Seebs Solutions and a filmmaker, described AI as “a tsunami” bringing major changes to filmmaking and the creative sector. He said training and skills development could help filmmakers use AI as a new medium.

Khandaker Rubayet Mursalin, a teacher at the University of Dhaka’s Department of Film, Television and Photography, called for research and policies on AI use in Bangladesh, audience responses and its impact.

Mamun-or-Rashid, adviser to the Bangla language technology project, said AI should be viewed as a tool to assist human creativity rather than replace it.

Abul Kalam Mohammad Shamsuddin, chief executive of the Bangladesh Film and Television Institute, said AI could reduce filmmaking costs and create opportunities to promote Bangladesh’s culture globally.

However, he stressed the need to use the technology while preserving the country’s cultural identity.

Participants in the open discussion also discussed copyright, skills development, technological capacity-building, the future of creativity and ways to prepare Bangladesh’s film industry for the growing use of AI.