Michel Franco Warns Fascism Tops AI as a Global Threat

Filmmaker Michel Franco Warns Fascism Tops AI as a Global Threat

Written by Aaron S.,

Editor-In-Chief

Last Updated: August 20, 2025

Key Takeaways

Michel Franco said AI could be useful for small fixes in film production, but raised doubts about its impact on creativity and jobs;
He is developing his first documentary, partly filmed in Poland, on World War II camps and the rise of fascism;
Despite industry focus on AI, Franco stated he fears fascism more by calling it a threat that people can confront and resist.

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Filmmaker Michel Franco has shared his thoughts on artificial intelligence (AI) at the Sarajevo Film Festival after receiving the Honorary Heart of Sarajevo and presenting his latest film, Dreams.

According to an August 20 report by Deadline, Franco said AI will arrive whether people want it or not. He sees no reason to fear it but admits he has not used it himself, "not even ChatGPT".

According to him, restoring an actor’s haircut digitally or skipping long sound sessions with the help of AI could free up more time for writing and reduce costs. For these smaller fixes, he would be open to using the technology.

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While AI may make filmmaking easier, he worries about what it means for creative work. He explained that even trained musicians sometimes struggle to tell human-made songs from machine-made ones, which raises questions about originality and jobs.

Franco also revealed he is working on his first documentary. He filmed part of it in Poland earlier this year, but has not decided whether the project will stay focused there.

The documentary will explore the Second World War, which focuses on concentration and extermination camps. Franco said the idea grew from years of conversations with actor Tim Roth about fascism.

Although much of the industry’s attention is on AI, Franco stressed that his main fear is political. He said:

I’m way more afraid of fascism than AI because it is something we can fight and control.

Recently, a study in Poland found that gastroenterologists’ ability to detect polyps became less effective after relying on AI during colonoscopies. What did the study reveal? Read the full story.