DOCUMENTED SCREENING PROGRAM: Deepfaking Sam Altman

Nominated for the SXSW 2025 Audience Award, and from the co-director of the hit HBO comedy-documentary series Telemarketers, comes the mordantly funny and deeply personal Deepfaking Sam Altman.

Director Adam Bhala Lough sets out to better understand the technology and people at the center of the AI boom. His quest sends him on a path towards the father of AI, OpenAI CEO, Sam Altman.

When Adam can’t get an interview with Altman himself, Adam does what anyone would do – he decides to create a deepfake of Sam Altman to interview instead. Adam travels to India to create an AI version of Altman, who he dubs ‘Sam Bot.’ The deepfake is a new kind of documentary subject and collaborator, who challenges Adam in surprising and hilarious ways.

Together, Adam and Sam Bot explore what it means to be alive, create art, and understand each other in an increasingly artificial world. Australian premiere.

Ticketing information: Tickets are $14 for AIDC delegates and are available to purchase via the ACMI website or in-person at the ACMI ticket desk.

Image credit: Deepfaking Sam Altman (Image courtesy of Abramorama)

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