AI-Generated Putin Biopic at Cannes

Polish director Besaleel’s new film, Putin, is set to showcase at Cannes and test the industry and audiences’ acceptance of AI-generated films.

Polish director Besaleel, also known as Patryk Vega, is set to test the audience’s appetite for artificial intelligence (AI)-generated performances with his new political biopic, Putin. This film, which will be presented to international distributors at next week’s Cannes film market, leverages AI to recreate Russian leader Vladimir Putin. Besaleel, in collaboration with his own technology company AIO, has crafted what he calls the “first deepfake” feature film. 

The world sales for Putin are being managed by the German group Kinostar, which started selling the film at the AFM last year and plans to release it in several European territories. Besaleel discussed his innovative approach, revealing that he shot scenes with a Polish actor of similar build to Putin. Using advanced AI technology, Besaleel overlaid Putin’s face onto the actor to achieve a realistic effect that traditional make-up or prosthetics couldn’t accomplish.

Besaleel, known for his successful Polish gangster movies such as Pitbull and Mafia Women, is making his English-language debut with Putin. The film, described as a political thriller and psychological portrait, depicts Putin’s life story through the lens of a powerful gangster. Originally titled The Vor in Law, a term referring to elite organized crime figures, the film includes recreations of significant events such as the 2002 Moscow theater hostage crisis, the carpet bombing of Chechnya, and the Russian invasion of Ukraine. 

This innovative use of AI not only aims to deliver a hyper-realistic representation of Putin, but also pushes the boundaries of how technology can transform storytelling in cinema.

Besaleel first announced the project in May 2022. He explained that developing and training the AI to convincingly replicate Putin’s likeness took over two years. This meticulous process involved extensive data collection and sophisticated algorithms to achieve the desired level of realism. The true test of this groundbreaking technology will be on September 26, as Putin begins its theatrical rollout in Eastern Europe.