On April 11 and 12, 2025, the city of Nice hosted a major and unprecedented cultural event: the inaugural edition of the WAiFF (World Artificial Intelligence Film Festival), an international festival dedicated to the convergence of artificial intelligence and cinematic and audiovisual creation. Supported by the Alpes-Maritimes Department and Tech Cannes, the festival brought together emerging talents, media professionals, producers, and tech enthusiasts in a festive, ambitious, and forward-looking atmosphere.
A Vision Driven by Tech Cannes and Sarah Lelouch
At the heart of this pioneering initiative is Sarah Lelouch, producer, entrepreneur, and founder and president of Tech Cannes, an innovation hub dedicated to culture and audiovisual industries. With WAiFF, she sought to create a space for reflection, creation, and exposure for a new generation of artists exploring the narrative potential of technological tools:
“I am deeply convinced that new technologies, like smartphones and artificial intelligence, are paving the way for a freer, more inclusive, and vibrantly alive seventh art,” she declared at the festival’s opening.
A Moving and Surprising Awards Ceremony
The highlight of the festival took place on Friday, April 11, at the Pathé Gare du Sud cinema, during the official awards ceremony hosted by Kevin Sagnier. The evening opened with a tribute to Claude Lelouch, a legendary figure of French cinema, who received the Departmental Medal of the Alpes-Maritimes from Charles Ange Ginésy, honoring his bold and poetic career.
Several awards were then presented, revealing the diversity and richness of the submitted projects:
- 🏆 Department’s “Coup de Cœur” Award: Curly by Nicolas Prudent, a tender and humorous tale of a New York hedgehog dreaming of transformation. Presented by Charles Ange Ginésy and Julie Gayet, the film stood out for its artistic sensitivity and subtle humor.
- 📱 ClapAction Award (Best Film Made on a Smartphone): Lost in Space by Timothée Falcon & Gabriel Jouve, celebrated for its bold creativity and intelligent use of mobile tools. Presented by Sarah Lelouch and Astou Sedy Diouf.
- 📺 Génario Award – Best Series Bible (partnered with Banijay):
- White Mask – Serge Hayat
- SK8 – Philippe Rouin
- Et n’être qu’un homme qui passe… – Olivier Bouffard
- 🎬 Génario Award – Best Feature Film Synopsis (partnered with Pathé):
- Minuit – Hannah Réveillé & Jules Kensley
- Mr. Kaplan – Amaury Hayat
- À ciel ouvert – Guillaume Miquel
- 🎖️ Jury Special Prize: Anomaly by Yevhen Chernyshov (Ukraine)
- 🤖 Best AI Film Award:
- The Russian Sleep Experiment – Nicolas Pomet
- L’Espace tombe sur la Terre – Nicolas Russeil
- Thiaroye 44 – Hussein Dumbel Sow, Laura Bui, Papa Oumar Diagne
A Message of Hope and Commitment
In his closing speech, Charles Ange Ginésy praised a groundbreaking edition that proves new technologies do not destroy cinema—they transform it:
“Artificial intelligence, digital platforms, and new formats do not extinguish cinema; they expand and enrich it.”
By joining forces with Tech Cannes and partners like Banijay and Pathé, the Alpes-Maritimes Department reaffirmed its commitment to fostering a cultural scene that is innovative, inclusive, and future-ready. WAiFF has shown that technology, when used with poetry and intelligence, is a powerful tool for storytelling and emotion.
This first edition revealed promising talents and offered a vibrant glimpse into the future of cinema. In Nice, cinema is now written not only with cameras and scripts—but with code and heart.
