Damien Hauser's film, Memory of Princess Mumbi, is set in a retro-futuristic Africa following a cataclysmic war. The film utilises AI in its production, primarily for set extensions, blending real locations with AI-generated scenery to depict a futuristic world. Hauser shot scenes on location and then used AI to replace backgrounds, maintaining visual quality with a small crew.
The film explores themes of memory, loss, and the role of AI in filmmaking. The plot centres on filmmaker Kuve, who travels to Umata to document the war's aftermath and meets Mumbi, who challenges him to create his film without AI. The narrative explores the tension between filmed reality and AI-generated imagery, questioning whether AI can truly capture human emotion.
Memory of Princess Mumbi made history as the first Kenyan feature to premiere at the Venice Film Festival in the independent Giornate degli Autori section. It also is set to appear at the Toronto International Film Festival. The film has garnered attention for blending traditional African storytelling with cutting-edge technology, prompting discussions about AI's role in cinema and highlighting the importance of human emotion in storytelling.
