The International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA) premiered About a Hero, a unique hybrid film created using artificial intelligence (AI) trained on the works of renowned filmmaker Werner Herzog. Directed by Piotr Winiewicz, the project blends narrative fiction, documentary interviews and AI-generated content to examine themes of originality, authenticity and creativity in an era dominated by technological advancement.

The film begins with Herzog investigating a mysterious death in a fictional town, Getunkirchenburg. However, it soon reveals itself as an exploration of AI’s ability to mimic human creativity, using a script produced by Kaspar, an AI system trained on the distinctive cinematic style and body of work of Herzog. The story is interwoven with interviews with artists, philosophers and scientists reflecting on the evolving relationship between creativity and artificial intelligence.

Winiewicz explained that the project was inspired by Herzog’s famous assertion that computers would need 4,500 years to create a film as good as his. Although the director did not see the film as a challenge to this assertion, he took the opportunity to experiment with the capabilities of AI. For six years, the production team collaborated with machine learning engineers, refining the AI ​​output into a coherent script. Notable actors Vicky Krieps and Stephen Fry joined the project, bringing depth to its hybrid storytelling.

Winiewicz highlighted the film’s intention to provoke a dialogue about the duality of AI, both as a tool for innovation and a potential source of ethical concerns. The director now plans to pursue new creative projects, including a romantic comedy, while reflecting on the complex implications of technology in art and society.

About a Hero positions itself at the intersection of art and technology, inviting audiences to question the nature of human creativity in the digital age.