Archive · 5 Nov 2025
George Miller Praises AI's Creative Potential at Australia's First AI Film Festival
Imagine a new way to make movies using computers, called AI.
Australia just had its first film festival dedicated to these AI movies, called OMNI.
A very famous movie director, George Miller (who made Mad Max!), was so interested that he helped judge the films.
He thinks AI movies are like a new kind of paint or a new camera that filmmakers can use.
He believes AI can help lots of people tell stories easily.
One movie won an award, and it was about imaginary movies that were never made.
Not everyone is as excited as George; some directors worry about AI.
But George thinks if AI stories are exciting and make you care about what happens next, then it's a good thing.
This festival helps people see how AI can be used for good storytelling.
Australia hosted its first AI film festival, OMNI, with 'Mad Max' director George Miller serving as a prominent juror.
Miller expressed fascination with AI filmmaking, comparing its emergence to past creative revolutions like the invention of photography.
OMNI received 400 entries, with the grand jury prize awarded to 'The Cinema That Never Was' by AI filmmaker Mark Wachholz.
Miller emphasized that AI's value in filmmaking lies in its ability to create emotionally resonant stories, not just technical novelty.
While some directors like Guillermo del Toro are wary of AI, Miller believes it can democratize filmmaking, making storytelling accessible to more people.
- Who
- George Miller, Travis Rice, Aryeh Sternberg, Mark Wachholz, Guillermo del Toro
- What
- Australia's first AI film festival, OMNI, highlighted the potential of AI in filmmaking, with director George Miller leading the jury and expressing optimism about its creative possibilities.
- When
- The first full edition of OMNI was held this week, with a screening event on Thursday.
- Where
- Australia (OMNI film festival)
- Why
- To showcase and explore the impact of artificial intelligence on filmmaking and storytelling, and to foster discussion around its creative potential and challenges.
AI Skeptics
AI Enthusiasts
AI's Impact on Filmmaking
AI Skeptics
Guillermo del Toro famously declared 'F**k AI,' expressing anxieties about its misuse and potential negative impact on the industry.
AI Enthusiasts
George Miller views generative filmmaking as a creative revolution, comparable to the invention of oil paint or photography, believing it can coexist with traditional methods and empower more storytellers.
AI as a Tool vs. Novelty
AI Skeptics
Concerns exist that AI might be used purely for technical novelty without prioritizing emotional resonance.
AI Enthusiasts
George Miller's judging criteria focused on whether a film makes the viewer want to know what happens next, emphasizing emotional resonance over the novelty of AI creation.
Accessibility of Filmmaking
AI Skeptics
Anxiety exists about AI being misused by the masses, potentially leading to negative outcomes.
AI Enthusiasts
George Miller believes AI democratizes filmmaking, making screen storytelling accessible to anyone with a calling for it, empowering individuals to tell stories previously beyond their reach.
- Festival Name
- OMNI
- Festival Type
- Australia's first artificial intelligence film festival
- Key Juror
- George Miller ('Mad Max' director)
- Festival Organizers
- Travis Rice (University of New South Wales) and Aryeh Sternberg (Radmis)
- Number of Entries (OMNI 1.0)
- 400
- Grand Jury Prize Winner
- The Cinema That Never Was by Mark Wachholz