The Sistine Hall in the Vatican Apostolic Library recently hosted the semi-annual assembly of the University Cinema Council, which brings together university professors and researchers of cinema, television, photography and audiovisual media in order to promote, encourage and coordinate scientific and cultural initiatives aimed at expanding and strengthening the presence of disciplines relating to cinema and audiovisuals in Italian universities. Among the topics discussed were the relationship between academia and audiovisual publishing, artificial intelligence in the cinema, and the teaching of audiovisual languages in schools, along with mention of the opportunities and warnings concerning the use of artificial intelligence.
The event opened with an address by Monsignor Dario Edoardo Viganò, vice-chancellor of the Pontifical Academies of Sciences and Social Sciences and president of the Audiovisual Memories of Catholicism (MAC) Foundation. The gathering was held in synergy with the Foundation, created by papal decree in 2023, which involved the Vatican Library and Archives in the study and enhancement of the audiovisual heritage of Catholicism.