AMC refuses to screen AI festival winner 'Thanksgiving Day' after backlash

AMC refuses to screen AI festival winner

AMC Theatres will not screen the AI-generated short film "Thanksgiving Day," which recently won a festival contest promising a theatrical release. The decision follows significant online backlash against the film's use of artificial intelligence in its creation.

The company stated it would "not participate" in exhibiting the project. This move directly contradicts the prize package announced for the winner of the inaugural Frame Forward AI Animated Film Festival.

Festival prize promised nationwide run

Earlier this week, the Frame Forward festival announced its winning project would receive a two-week run in theaters across the United States. The festival's distribution partner, Screenvision Media, facilitated this prize.

Screenvision is an advertising company that supplies the 20-minute pre-show content, known as the pre-show engagement, that plays before feature films at major chains. Their network includes some AMC locations, as well as Classic Cinemas and TCL Chinese Theatres.

However, it appears individual theater exhibitors were not involved in setting the contest's terms. AMC's public refusal highlights a disconnect between the festival's promised prize and the theaters' willingness to fulfill it.

Online outrage fueled the decision

The short film "Thanksgiving Day" sparked immediate criticism online for its AI-generated visuals. Many artists and film professionals voiced concerns about the ethics of AI in creative fields and the festival's endorsement of the technology.

This public pressure likely contributed to AMC's swift and definitive response. The theater chain is choosing to distance itself from a project that has become a flashpoint in the ongoing debate about artificial intelligence in entertainment.

Key elements of the controversy include:

• The use of AI to generate the film's animation, bypassing traditional artists.
• The festival's role in legitimizing AI-generated content with a major prize.
• The assumption that theaters would automatically comply with the festival's distribution deal.

Future of AI film prizes in question

AMC's stance throws the future of similar AI-focused festival prizes into doubt. A core component of the Frame Forward contest's value has been effectively nullified by a key exhibition partner's refusal.

This incident sets a significant precedent. It demonstrates that theater chains retain final control over their screens and may reject content that aligns with controversial production methods.

The backlash and AMC's reaction underscore a major hurdle for AI-generated films seeking traditional theatrical distribution. Gaining festival accolades is one challenge; securing actual screen time from wary exhibitors is another.