Alberto Zanini is 45, lives in Cesenatico, Italy, and has just made a 3.5-hour feature film entirely alone — script, visuals, music, editing — for a few hundred euros. It began as a theatre project. When the company dissolved, he decided to continue anyway. AI made it possible.
How did this film come to life?
I've always loved cinema and art. This is my first full-length film — originally it was a theatre project. When the company dissolved, I didn't want to let the idea go, so I decided to continue it alone. AI became the only way I could actually bring it to life.
You made the entire film by yourself. How was that even possible?
Yes — everything: the script, visuals, music, editing. I worked on the idea for several years, and the production itself took about five months. In a traditional way, it would have required a big team and a huge budget — maybe millions. With AI, I managed to do it for a few hundred euros, just by learning and experimenting.
"Without AI, this film simply wouldn't exist. For me, it's just a tool. Like anything else — it depends on how you use it."
So AI wasn't just a tool — it was a necessity?
Exactly. I still prefer traditional filmmaking — it feels warmer, more human. AI can feel a bit cold and impersonal. But without it, this film simply wouldn't exist. For me, it's just a tool. Like anything else, it depends on how you use it.
What kind of film did you want to create?
Something very personal and original. It comes from myself and the world around me — my thoughts, what I observe, what I feel. I tried not to judge it, just to express it. In a way, it's like a long dream — unfiltered, sometimes illogical, but honest. And there's also irony in it — I laughed a lot while making it.
The film has already won awards. Did you expect that?
Not at all. I won Best AI Film in Mexico and Sofia, and received other selections. It was a real surprise — especially because the film is long and not always easy to watch.
What would you say to someone who wants to create but hesitates?
Just try. Don't wait for the perfect moment, and don't let insecurity stop you. You only understand what you can do when you actually start.
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