Luca Guadagnino’s ‘Artificial’ World Premiere Set for New York Film Festival

The New York Film Festival is set to unveil “Artificial,” a highly anticipated film directed by Luca Guadagnino, which delves into the life of OpenAI founder Sam Altman. Audiences will have their first opportunity to view this drama on October 5 at Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall. The film was previously under the banner of Amazon MGM, which decided to part ways with the nearly completed project earlier this year. Following this, Neon acquired the film, generating considerable buzz in the film industry.

The primary storyline of “Artificial” centers on the controversial period during which Altman was abruptly dismissed and subsequently reinstated as CEO within the technology firm. Andrew Garfield takes on the role of Altman, while Monica Barbaro portrays Mira Murati, OpenAI’s chief technology officer. Supporting roles include Yura Borisov as Ilya Sutskever, co-founder of OpenAI, Ike Barinholtz as Elon Musk, and Jason Schwartzman, among others. The production team features renowned names such as David Heyman and Jennifer Fox, along with Guadagnino himself.

Earlier this year, Amazon MGM’s decision to withdraw from the project raised eyebrows, particularly in light of its recent partnership with OpenAI that included a substantial billion investment. This strategic move, juxtaposed against Altman’s personal ties to Amazon chief Jeff Bezos, including Altman’s attendance at Bezos’s wedding in 2025, has fueled speculations regarding the decision.

Dennis Lim, the artistic director of the New York Film Festival, commended Guadagnino’s film for its profound thematic resonance, stating that it adeptly captures the essence of the current trajectory of artificial intelligence. “Artificial” is described as possessing a blend of dark humor, clear-eyed observations, and an urgent existential undertone, positioning it as a pertinent commentary for contemporary audiences.

Following its premiere, “Artificial” is scheduled for a gala screening at the BFI London Film Festival on October 11, further solidifying its status as a major cinematic event this season.

The 64th New York Film Festival, running from September 25 through October 12, will also showcase a range of films including James Gray’s “Paper Tiger,” Ava DuVernay’s documentary “14th,” and Takashi Yamazaki’s “Godzilla Minus Zero,” reflecting a diverse array of narratives fitting for today’s filmgoers.

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