The Artifice Girl

description

When an internet vigilante develops a revolutionary new computer program to combat online predators, its rapid advancement leads to serious questions of autonomy, oppression, and what it really means to be human.

Gareth has created a hyper-realistic digital computer model of a twelve-year-old girl named Cherry, which uses a basic form of artificial intelligence to combat online predators. Twenty years later, Gareth, now a special operative, finds himself questioning Cherry’s evolving sentience, as his colleagues argue that her A.I. has advanced to the point where she can self-navigate her continuing evolution. Decades later, Gareth and Cherry grapple with the morality and consequences of A.I.'s future.

OFFICIAL SELECTION
Fantasia International Film Festival 2022
SXSW 2023

DIRECTOR'S BIO
Franklin Ritch is an independent filmmaker, writing, directing, and editing with a passion for unique ideas and sharp storytelling. Since high school, Franklin has developed a vast filmography of short films, web series, features, and other anomalous explorations into the medium of film. In 2022, Franklin premiered his debut feature film, THE ARTIFICE GIRL, at Fantasia International Film Festival. Franklin has been named one of the "25 New Faces of Independent Film" by Filmmaker Magazine. Franklin is currently developing an ambitious follow-up feature film, with several more projects on the horizon.