Francesco Carrozzini, an Italian director based in New York, is bringing an innovative documentary to the Venice Film Festival called “Be Brave.” The 85-minute film chronicles the life of Renzo Rosso, the founder of the Diesel fashion empire, and marks a significant moment for artificial intelligence in cinema as one of the first AI-driven features presented by a major film festival.
What sets “Be Brave” apart is its unconventional approach to storytelling. Rather than traditional filming methods, Carrozzini employed AI technology to recreate Rosso at various points in his life, never shooting a single frame of his actual subject. This technique allowed the director to explore moments and perspectives that traditional documentary footage could not capture, while maintaining emotional depth and narrative quality throughout the piece.
Carrozzini spent approximately eighteen months completing the project, during which he faced unique challenges as AI technology rapidly evolved. He emphasizes that the film is not intended as a commentary on artificial intelligence itself, but rather as an exploration of how the technology can enhance creative storytelling. According to the director, a key message underlying the work is that humanity must remain central to filmmaking, even as new tools become available.
The documentary presents Rosso’s journey as an underdog story, showing how he rose from poverty to build a global fashion brand. Festival leadership has welcomed the project as an invitation for filmmakers to consider new creative possibilities that AI technology can offer to their craft.
Originally reported by Variety →
About the Author
