The Nuovo Film Festival will use a $2 million state grant to advance AI-assisted production in cinema. Organizers outlined five “pillars” for the festival, including a lab to train filmmakers in AI storytelling, incentive programs to attract productions, and an AI-powered soundstage with dedicated infrastructure. They claim a $200 million project that normally takes three years could be completed in nine months for roughly $10 million using AI-enabled workflows, though these projections remain theoretical.

The festival also aims to develop local talent through high school and college certificate programs in makeup, set design, sound, staging, and editing. “Utah would have the dedicated and trained workforce to allow filmmakers to come here and use the local workforce instead of bringing them here,” the festival’s presentation stated.

In addition, Nuovo plans to collaborate with Harbor Fund, a Utah nonprofit that pairs filmmakers with philanthropic capital to support “films that matter.” The organization cites critic Roger Ebert: “The movies are like a machine that generates empathy.” Organizers hope to align the festival with impact-driven filmmaking while streamlining production.

Lance Soffe, director of targeted industries for the Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Development, framed the initiative as a forward-looking pivot. “Traditional festivals are not generating the same impact they once did. Instead of trying to recreate an aging model, Nuovo has presented a forward-thinking approach that builds on Utah’s legacy while embracing where the industry is going,” he said.

The festival’s board includes former MGM Television chief Mark Burnett, advertising executives, and venture capitalists, signaling a high-profile push into the AI-driven future of filmmaking.