AiStudios.ca

INTO THE UNKNOWN (ANCIENT ALIEN)

Film

Into the Unknown recently won 2nd Place for Best AI Short Film at the Big Screen Hack in Cannes, where it premiered in front of an audience of cinema, technology, and innovation professionals. Created in under 48 hours, the film is a bold example of what Canadian independent filmmakers can now achieve when traditional storytelling craft meets emerging generative technology. Logline: When an alien crash-lands in Ancient Egypt, a young boy becomes its only hope of survival — forging an unlikely bond that could change the fate of two worlds. Co-directed by Adrien Bodson and Marc-André Lavoie, Into the Unknown blends ancient myth, alien adventure, humour, danger, and wonder into a cinematic short that feels playful, emotional, and visually ambitious. AI allowed us to reach a scale normally reserved for major studio productions — ancient civilizations, alien technology, expressive characters, sweeping environments — but the heart of the film remains deeply human. For us, AI does not replace cinema. It expands what Canadian filmmakers can imagine, build, and share with the world. Every major creative choice — writing, visual language, shot design, pacing, editing, sound, emotional rhythm, performance direction, and final storytelling — was guided by the filmmakers. The technology was a tool; the authorship remained human.