Sigurjón Sighvatsson, the acclaimed producer behind David Lynch's Cannes Palme d'Or winner Wild at Heart, Julian Schnabel's Basquiat, and Kathryn Bigelow's The Weight of Water, is set to receive the Raimondo Rezzonico Award at the 79th edition of the Locarno Film Festival. This honor, named after the festival's former president, highlights Sighvatsson's significant contributions to the film industry. In an exclusive interview with THR, Sighvatsson shared his thoughts on the festival circuit, the impact of AI on the film industry, and his perspective on Netflix's approach to content creation.
The Appeal of Locarno
Sighvatsson expressed his enthusiasm for returning to Locarno, praising the festival's unique curation and adventurous spirit. He believes that Locarno stands out for its focus on diverse and unconventional films, a stark contrast to the more predictable and star-centric approach of other major festivals like Cannes. "The festival is not just focused on what is in the competition," he says. "Everything has changed. When Wild at Heart won in Cannes, that was a big platform for that kind of unusual film to get. Now, we don't know really what Cannes is anymore. What are they catering to? What is their vision? It is a very different festival from Locarno."
AI's Role in the Film Industry
When asked about AI's impact on the film industry, Sighvatsson offered a nuanced perspective. He acknowledges that AI has the potential to assist in various aspects of filmmaking, but he doubts its ability to revolutionize the art form. "I think AI actually will help in many ways, but I don't really see AI movies changing things because in the end, movies are about people and they're about stories," he explains. "I see it working for some projects. For the new The Odyssey, Christopher Nolan was not using AI for a reason — because he doesn't want to make people feel it's AI. I heard the new [live-action] Moana, the Disney film, feels just like an AI film, even though it’s using real characters [and CGI]."
Sighvatsson draws a parallel between AI and powerful tools like the atom bomb, emphasizing the importance of how these tools are utilized. He predicts that many filmmakers will choose not to use AI, as they don't require it, but others will embrace it. However, he concludes that AI will significantly impact television more than cinema, as it is already being integrated into television production.
Netflix's 'Closed System'
Sighvatsson's views on Netflix are critical, particularly regarding the streaming service's approach to content creation. He distinguishes between traditional films and what Netflix produces, labeling the latter as 'Netflix films.' According to him, Netflix content often lacks deep meaning and is designed for a closed system, unlike his own work, which is intended for a broader audience. "Most of the things that Netflix does don’t have a very deep meaning, and they are not supposed to. You still need a lot of skill to make those big Netflix films, but they don’t really expect them to have a long life, and they are shown only within a closed system. It’s the Netflix system, so Netflix is just making something for a closed system, whereas everything that I’ve made, even music videos, is for an open system that anybody can access."
The producer criticizes Netflix's distribution model, noting that they don't sell their content to other platforms. This, he argues, has led to a Netflix-specific language and a focus on mass appeal, resulting in less complex storytelling. "The difference is that Netflix doesn’t even sell any of its product to anybody else but Netflix. So they’ve created the language that fits this box that is called the Netflix box, and they’re very successful, including with some of the animation and some of the children’s content. And even though Netflix is changing, it doesn’t change the fact that a Netflix film fits only in a Netflix box. It wouldn’t fit in an Imax theater, for example. … And when you’re producing for such masses, you automatically demand less complexity."
Sighvatsson concludes that he is unlikely to produce a Netflix title, as it doesn't align with his artistic vision. However, he acknowledges the positive impact Netflix has had on the industry, particularly in providing opportunities for international filmmakers to create content in various languages and cultures.
