The feature doc project Finding Connection investigates the extent to which AI can provide help and comfort to folk who cannot receive these via human contact. In the film we meet four such folk, whose relationship with AI is both complex and satisfying, whether to restructure their everyday life and make it more meaningful, or to reflect on unpleasant aspects of their lives and change them for the better.
“Although the users of the technology are convinced of its benefits and have many positive experiences, the paradigm shift, which is still unfamiliar, evokes a strange feeling in outsiders,” says German producer Martin Schwimmer (Domar Film) in his film notes.
“Finding Connection encourages reflection and challenges viewers to question their own ideas about relationships and intimacy,” the producer adds in conversation with Business Doc Europe. “The poetic film not only sheds light on the personal stories behind the technology, but also asks fundamental questions about the nature of human relationships. Is it the role of partnerships to fulfil one’s own desires and needs, or is it the individual’s responsibility to provide themselves with a sense of security and protection?”
Director Florian Karner seems equally capable of matching AI’s skills of empathy and understanding in telling this most compelling story. “His great strength in this film is that he has succeeded in immersing himself in the very intimate realities of his protagonists’ lives,” says Schwimmer. “The characters allow him to share in their most personal thoughts and issues, giving no indication at all that there is a camera nearby. That is ultimately the strength of the film. We see four people in relationships with AI partners in a way that is more intimate than perhaps ever seen before, yet we do not view the characters in a voyeuristic way, but rather with great empathy.”
The film will move between three distinct visual worlds, the producer adds. “On the one hand, we stay close to our protagonists: handheld, intimate camerawork observes them in their rooms, their routines, and their conversations. The visual language is quiet and attentive, using close-ups, POVs, and details designed to create a feeling of intimacy and trust,” he says.
“Next, we open a more abstract layer through AI-generated imagery: poetic, dreamlike fragments that reflect the inner landscapes of our protagonists and mirror how AI itself might piece the world together from scattered data,” Schwimmer continues. “Finally, a third layer of wide-angle shots allows us to step back, creating distance and space to reflect on what we see. These three layers — the tangible outside world and the fragile, metaphorical inside world — create a cinematic space in which human vulnerability and digital intimacy overlap.”
In Leipzig, the production team are looking for a festival premiere, world sales and post-production support ahead of an early 2026 delivery. “We hope to release the film at a major international festival like the Berlinale or Sundance, or a renowned documentary festival such as Hot Docs or Cinema du Réel in Nyon, followed by theatrical releases and, of course, VOD and TV,” says Schwimmer.
“Artificial intelligence is becoming a central part of our lives, shaping how we communicate and connect. As AI increasingly mimics empathy, people turn to it not just for information, but for companionship and emotional support. The film probes urgent questions about loneliness, authenticity, and what it means to form connections in a world where the line between human and machine is fading. Its exploration of these themes makes it a film of global interest and significance,” Schwimmer ends.
