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Adrien Brody has weighed in on the use of AI in Hollywood and insisted that ‘nothing can replace emotion’ in film.
The 52-year-old star won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in last year’s movie The Brutalist – which faced criticism for using the technology – but now says that it will never be able to replicate the authenticity of an emotional performance.
Speaking at the Red Sea Film Festival in Saudi Arabia, Adrien said: ‘There are new tools that are now available that will definitely enhance all our abilities to do great work, but there is nothing to replace emotion.
‘Even if you can fabricate it or whatever, we really should always cherish and support the creative process and the beauty of filmmaking, but that’s not to say that an evolution of that which is inevitable is bad. We have choices in what we choose as individuals to agree to ingest.
‘So you have a lot of options and content now, and it makes it hard to sort through all of that, to find gems.
‘And the little things that are sometimes really beautiful do not have the marketing support or they do not have access to you.
He added of technology in general in the year 2025: ‘I’m seeing in a time that there’s immense shifts in every field, and technology is a major factor. But there’s also shifts in the way we view content, what our children are exposed to as content.
‘I grew up on film. I grew up making movies on film. I grew up with four cell phones. I grew up with filmmakers who did in-camera effects and stunts that were dangerous and physical.’
Adrien also admits that it was stressful shooting The Brutalist over a 23-day period but refused to ‘hold back’ in his performance as architect Laszlo Toth.
He said: ‘There is no way to say, ‘I’m going to hold back today.’
‘The way I hold back is, I have no personal life when I’m filming. In as much as I love the people I work with, I don’t hang out with my actors or crew when I have heavy lifting or emotional work.’
Brody added: ‘I have my own techniques to have the space to give it when needed.
‘You have to hope you’re able to. It’s not a science, you’re not a machine. Some days you’re not gonna be the best, and you have to find ways of being able to snap yourself out of whatever the personal distractions are, whatever the complexity is on the set that day.
‘Whatever you are, you have to deliver work. That is the responsibility of the actor.’
Adrien is a two-time Best Actor Oscar winner – having also claimed the prize for his role in the 2002 movie The Pianist – but insists that his desire to act remains strong despite awards recognition.
He said: ‘There are new doors that are open, which is wonderful, but the journey continues. I love acting more than ever.
‘I yearn to act more than ever. I yearn to be a storyteller more than ever, in that I have a lifetime working with the finest directors ever, wonderful producers, amazing actors, and I know how to interact and give actors the space so that they can shine and feel most comfortable.
‘And I know a great deal about narrative storytelling, so there’s a degree of evolution that I hope to add value to.’
Saudi Arabia’s fifth Red Sea International Film Festival opened last Thursday night with a dazzling, star-studded gala in Jeddah – the coastal city that first set the festival in motion in 2019.
Dakota Johnson, Ana De Armas and Rita Ora were among the glamorous arrivals on the night.
This year’s edition once again puts global cinema in the spotlight, with a bold focus on Arab filmmakers and regional talent.
Guests from across the world poured into Cultural Square in Jeddah’s historic Al-Balad district to celebrate and mark the festival’s 2025 theme: For the Love of Cinema.
The night also doubled as the world premiere of Giant, the high-energy biographical drama about British boxing legend Prince Naseem Hamed.
Directed by Rowan Athale, it stars Amir El-Masry as ‘Naz’ and Pierce Brosnan as his famed Irish trainer Brendan Ingle.
During the opening gala, Sir Michael Caine was honoured for his illustrious seven-decade career by his longtime friend Vin Diesel, and was supported by three of his grandchildren as he spoke on stage.
This year’s festival jury were also among the VIP guests at the premiere, including Nadine Labaki, Riz Ahmed, Head of 2025 Jury Sean Baker, Chairwoman of the RSIFF Jomana Al Rashid, Olga Kurylenko and Naomie Harris.
Faisal Baltyuor, who is CEO of the RSIFF, was joined at the gala by acclaimed Syrian film producer Jamal Suliman.
Michael, who was introduced by close friend Vin and honoured for his extraordinary seven-decade career, was in attendance on the red carpet.
Vin, a longtime friend of the acting legend, was in high spirits as he prepared to pay tribute to Michael at the gala.
Michael, who celebrated his 92nd birthday in March, was greeted by a standing ovation from the guests in attendance as he was honoured at the awards, alongside his three grandchildren Taylor, Miles and Allegra.
He said: ‘I kept working until I was 90, which was two years ago, and I thought to myself I’m not going to do anything else because I’ve had all the luck you can get. But one of the biggest lucky things is tonight to turn up here.
‘I’ll tell you why, because I had never been here. I’ve seen it on the television, but I thought I’d never win with anything there.
‘And I have won something, so I’m happy, and you’ve surprised me. I want to thank you for the surprise, because in showbusiness, you never get many surprises, but you get a couple of shocks. So thank you.’
Read more
- While dazzled by Vin Diesel’s heartfelt gesture, what did Sir Michael Caine have to say about luck and surprises in Hollywood?
- What emotional reflections did Sir Michael Caine share while receiving accolades for his extraordinary career at the star-studded gala?
- How did Adrien Brody and Mikey Madison lead a night of triumph at the BAFTA 2025?
- How did Sir Michael Caine inspire young filmmakers at the Red Sea Festival with his blend of humour and honesty?
- How did Michael Caine captivate the crowd during his moving tribute at the film festival?
