AI to Restore Archival Footage for Documentary on Russia's Far East
The creators of the documentary Blizkiy Dalniy (The Far East Up Close), which explores the centenary of Russia's Far East and the Far Eastern Newsreel Studio, plan to use artificial intelligence to restore historical footage.
Producer Filipp Kudryashov said the project will use AI exclusively to improve the quality of archival footage, not to colorize black-and-white film. In his view, artificial intelligence can be either a valuable tool or a source of unwanted alterations, depending on how it is applied.
"I believe we should focus solely on restoring the archival footage because, to be honest, I strongly oppose colorization. Adding color to photographs or film that were never intended to be shown that way can produce undesirable results. If we can instead restore the footage to a level of quality that we can confidently present to audiences, that will be a major advantage for the film," Kudryashov said.
Filipp Kudryashov is President of the Guild of Producers and Film Industry Organizers of the Russian Filmmakers Union and CEO of the Vifsaida Social Cinema Studio.
