PalaCinema, Locarno
FORMA APERTA
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE HYBRID LIVE PRODUCTION SET
FILM PRODUCTION / RESEARCH / PUBLIC OPENING
FORMA APERTA will take place from 28 September to 11 October 2026 at PalaCinema Locarno. During these two weeks, the production will be accompanied by professional gatherings, visits to the production space, moments of exchange and a public programme.
At the centre of the project is the hybrid AI Live Production Workflow, the main production phase of Daniel JeanRichard, the first film in The Industry of Time series, dedicated to the history and transformation of the Swiss watchmaking industry. The film brings together historical research, performance, traditional audiovisual techniques and generative tools.
FORMA APERTA opens the process as it happens: production becomes an observable and shared space, capable of generating knowledge, connecting different fields of expertise and making visible the transformations introduced by new technologies.
PROGRAM
02 October 17:30 - 18:30
MERGE FILM FESTIVAL
Cinema Lux Massagno
Where Does the Creative Process Live?
Open talk and launch of FORMA APERTA with Felix Bachmann, Kevin Merz, Manuela Bachmann (Generative Center), and Simona Gamba (Living Lab Lugano).
06 October 15:00 - 17:00
PALACINEMA LOCARNO
OPEN STUDIO
FEEDBACK SESSION
A visit to the production space, including observation of the work in progress and an exchange with the creative team.
08 October 18:00 - 19:0
PALACINEMA LOCARNO
OPEN STUDIO
FEEDBACK SESSION
A second session open to professionals, students and the public, taking place within a production that is still evolving
09 October 17:30 - 20:30
PALACINEMA LOCARNO
Opening
INTELLIGENCE IN TIME
A public event bringing together cinema, artificial intelligence research, the history of watchmaking and the philosophy of time, including the presentation of material from the film and the first research findings.
01 / CASE STUDY
Ethical and sustainability research
During the two weeks of production, a research process will be developed around the practical use and relationship to artificial intelligence tools within the filmmaking process.
Daniel JeanRichard will serve as a case study for building a transparent and shareable framework, describing the tools used and the creative and production choices that determine the efficiency or dispersion of the process.
Models and tools used
Generation attempts
Material produced and material used
Electricity consumption and, where measurable, water consumption
02 / VISIBLE PROCESS
Documentation
The project will be accompanied by audiovisual documentation dedicated to the creative process, the public activities and the professional gatherings.
The documentation will preserve a record of the work carried out and make the themes of the production accessible to a wider audience, with particular attention to cinema, artificial intelligence, watchmaking and research on time.
Content for digital channels, interviews, behind-the-scenes material and live-streaming moments connected to the sector gatherings, the feedback sessions and the concluding Opening are planned.
03 / TRANSMISSION
Shared knowledge
FORMA APERTA makes emerging audiovisual production practices accessible through direct observation, dialogue and participation.
Professionals, students and independent practitioners can engage with a real production process, supporting professional development and a critical understanding of the transformations currently taking place.
The first research findings will be presented during the Opening on 9 October and subsequently organised into a dedicated document.
