Full Breakdown
AI-Driven Documentary “Be Brave” Debuts at Venice
8/31/2026, 8:38:27 PM
Core Event: AI-Generated Portrait of Renzo Rosso Premieres at Venice
Italian director Francesco Carrozzini is presenting his 85-minute documentary “Be Brave” at the Venice Film Festival’s out-of-competition slate. The film profiles Renzo Rosso, founder of Diesel and chairman of the OTB Group, but contains no footage shot of Rosso. Carrozzini’s team recreated Rosso at multiple stages of his life using artificial-intelligence tools, delivering a fully scripted portrait that appears as a conventional documentary.
Background & Context
Carrozzini, based in New York, was approached by producer Lorenzo Mieli with the idea of a film about Rosso. Archival material offered only limited moments, and there were no suitable interviews, prompting the decision to generate new scenes with AI. The project emerged amid a broader industry conversation about AI’s role in filmmaking, where unions, courts, and awards bodies are debating the technology’s impact.
Production Process and Technical Challenges
Creating “Be Brave” required building a visual and audio likeness of Rosso. The team selected period photographs, then used AI to synthesize his appearance, voice, and wardrobe for each era. Replicating believable behavior proved the most difficult aspect.
The workflow involved labeling AI-generated assets as if they were traditional footage, then organizing them for editing. Production company Our Films (a Mediawan subsidiary) and financiers including Blackstone supported the effort. AI artist Roberto Beragnoli performed the bulk of the technical work, which Carrozzini likened to the effort required for a high-budget CGI feature. The process demanded extensive upscaling of low-resolution AI output and integration of multiple software tools, extending the production timeline.
Official Statements & Responses
Carrozzini described the rapid evolution of AI as both a hurdle and an excitement, noting that techniques used early in the year-and-a-half production cycle often became obsolete before later scenes were finished. He emphasized that the film is not intended as a broad thesis on artificial intelligence; rather, it serves as a focused reflection on how AI functions within storytelling. The director’s central message is that the human must come first in any AI-augmented narrative.
Why It Matters / Impact
“Be Brave” joins a small cohort of AI-driven features premiering at a major international festival, positioning Venice as a testing ground for the technology’s creative possibilities. Venice artistic director Alberto Barbera framed the film’s inclusion as a provocation, inviting filmmakers to consider AI as an expansion tool rather than a replacement for traditional methods. The film’s reception could influence how studios and documentary makers approach AI, potentially shaping future production pipelines and ethical guidelines.
What’s Next
“Be Brave” will be screened when the Venice Film Festival opens in September. Audience and critical reactions at the festival will determine whether the project is viewed as a genuine creative breakthrough or a cautionary illustration of AI’s current limits in documentary filmmaking.
