Malagasy filmmaker NirinA has recently released a film titled "Death's First Day," which utilizes artificial intelligence (AI) to generate its visuals and music. The film tells the story of a father and son who didn't have the chance to say everything they wanted to each other before the father's passing. NirinA was inspired to create the film after losing his own father and reflecting on the concept of death and what comes after. He wanted to explore the idea of a gentle "Faucheuse," or Death, who is often depicted as a grim figure.
NirinA's journey to creating "Death's First Day" began with a video featuring a modernized Cupid character. He asked AI tool Gemini to suggest different archetypes related to death, and the Faucheuse immediately caught his attention. He decided to take the idea in a different direction by portraying the Faucheuse as a kind character. NirinA had already written a first version of the script without AI, which contained about 70% of the final film. He then used AI tools like Claude, Seedream, Seedance 2.5, and Suno to develop the story, characters, and visuals.
The use of AI in filmmaking raises questions about the creative process and the role of human intuition. According to NirinA, working with AI requires learning to direct the tool and making deliberate choices about framing, movement, and character development. He spent around 222 hours working on the 10-minute film, which included generating and refining the visuals and music. The film's central action sequence, which lasts about two minutes, required 98 generations.
Despite the challenges of working with AI, NirinA is pleased with the response to "Death's First Day." The film has garnered over 36,000 views on Reddit and 360,000 views on Facebook, with 17,000 reactions and 1,800 shares. One viewer, a father with cancer, wrote to NirinA expressing his hope that his child would be able to see the film when the time came. This message resonated deeply with NirinA, who believes that the film's themes of love, loss, and legacy are universal.
"Death's First Day" has been selected to participate in the Global Film Festival 2026, a prestigious event that received over 6,000 submissions. NirinA sees this as a significant achievement and a testament to the film's impact. He is now working on a new short film for another festival and is excited to explore new ideas and techniques.
NirinA's experience with AI has taught him the importance of balancing technology with human creativity and intuition. He believes that while AI can generate impressive images and music, it is up to the filmmaker to determine the narrative and emotional arc of the story. As he looks to the future, NirinA is eager to continue pushing the boundaries of what is possible with AI-generated content.
The intersection of technology and art is a growing trend in Madagascar, with many young creatives exploring the possibilities of AI-generated content. NirinA's success with "Death's First Day" is an inspiration to others, and his commitment to using AI as a tool to enhance his storytelling is a testament to the potential of this technology.
Key points
- The film "Death's First Day" uses AI-generated visuals and music to tell a story about a father's love and legacy.
- NirinA spent around 222 hours working on the 10-minute film, which included generating and refining the visuals and music.
- The film has been selected to participate in the Global Film Festival 2026, a prestigious event that received over 6,000 submissions.
