Danny Boyle Heckled at TIFF Over ~30 Seconds of AI VFX in "Ink"

At the Toronto International Film Festival Q&A for his Rupert Murdoch drama "Ink," director Danny Boyle defended his film's limited use of generative AI, describing it as roughly 30 seconds of footage used as a VFX tool — including animating archival-style photos and mice in a newsroom setting. Boyle stressed that no actors were displaced as a result, and framed AI as one tool among many in the VFX pipeline. Google DeepMind was credited in the end titles, which were still rolling on screen as the panel began.

The disclosure has not been well received. Critics first flagged the AI usage during "Ink"'s Venice Film Festival debut, and the backlash followed the film to Toronto, where an audience member audibly shouted "never do that shit again" after Boyle's explanation. The incident underscores growing tension between established filmmakers exploring AI-assisted production and an industry audience increasingly resistant to its use.