Sigurjón Sighvatsson, the acclaimed producer behind David Lynch's Palme d'Or winner Wild at Heart and Julian Schnabel's Basquiat, is set to receive the Raimondo Rezzonico Award at the 79th edition of the Locarno Film Festival. This honor, named after the festival's former president, is a testament to Sighvatsson's illustrious career and his impact on the film industry. In an exclusive interview with THR, Sighvatsson shared his thoughts on the festival circuit, the impact of AI on the film industry, and his perspective on Netflix's approach to content creation.
The Appeal of Locarno
Sighvatsson's enthusiasm for the Locarno Film Festival is evident in his words. He praises the festival's commitment to showcasing diverse and unconventional films, a stark contrast to the more predictable and star-focused nature of larger festivals like Cannes. "The festival is not just focused on what is in the competition," he says. "Everything has changed. When Wild at Heart won in Cannes, that was a big platform for that kind of unusual film to get. Now, we don't know really what Cannes is anymore. What are they catering to? What is their vision? It is a very different festival from Locarno."
He believes that the flexibility and lower profile of Locarno will ultimately benefit it in a changing film industry. "I love Locarno," he says. "I think some of the other festivals have become prisoners of their own success, and with the business changing, they have changed. I think festivals like Locarno, which are smaller and have a slightly lower profile and different approaches to film, will do better."
AI's Role in the Film Industry
When it comes to AI, Sighvatsson sees both potential benefits and challenges. He acknowledges that AI can assist in various aspects of filmmaking, but he doubts its ability to revolutionize the art form. "I think AI actually will help in many ways, but I don't really see AI movies changing things because in the end, movies are about people and they're about stories," he says. "I see it working for some projects. For the new The Odyssey, Christopher Nolan was not using AI for a reason — because he doesn't want to make people feel it's AI. I heard the new [live-action] Moana, the Disney film, feels just like an AI film, even though it’s using real characters [and CGI]."
Sighvatsson draws a parallel between AI and powerful tools like the atom bomb, emphasizing the importance of how they are utilized. He believes that many filmmakers will choose not to use AI, as they don't need to, but others will embrace it. However, he concludes that AI will not fundamentally alter the course of cinema, but rather have a more significant impact on television.
Netflix's Closed System
Sighvatsson's views on Netflix are particularly insightful. He distinguishes between traditional films and what he calls "Netflix films." He argues that Netflix content often lacks the depth and longevity of traditional films, as it is produced with a specific, closed system in mind. "There are things that Netflix calls films. I don’t call them films," he says. "I call them Netflix films. That’s very different than a film."
The producer highlights the difference in distribution models, noting that Netflix doesn't sell its content to other platforms. This, he believes, has led to a certain level of simplicity in Netflix's offerings. "The difference is that Netflix doesn’t even sell any of its product to anybody else but Netflix," he says. "So they’ve created the language that fits this box that is called the Netflix box, and they’re very successful, including with some of the animation and some of the children’s content. And even though Netflix is changing, it doesn’t change the fact that a Netflix film fits only in a Netflix box. It wouldn’t fit in an Imax theater, for example. … And when you’re producing for such masses, you automatically demand less complexity."
Given his principles, Sighvatsson doesn't envision himself producing Netflix titles. "I don’t think so," he says. "I don’t think it’s my thing. I don’t think I’m in the Netflix universe."
Despite his reservations, Sighvatsson acknowledges Netflix's positive impact on the industry, particularly in providing opportunities for diverse content creation. "I think it’s great that other people [create content for] it. That’s fantastic, and Netflix has changed the business," he says. "What I think Netflix has done well is give people in other countries an opportunity to make material in different languages, in different cultures. That, I think, is the greatest contribution Netflix has made."
